When You’ve Done What You Could
Mark 14: 3 – 9 records the account of Jesus entering the house of Simon, a Pharisee (Luke 7: 36 – 50), and a woman with an alabaster box of ointment coming to Jesus, washing His feet with her tears, drying them with her hair, and Jesus forgiving her sins. Mark’s account gives us this additional information: “She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint My body to the burying.” (Mark 14:8) Let’s examine that commendation.
Often, we commend folks for doing good deeds. We’re grateful! We want others to know they’ve been kind to us. We have no designs on embarrassing them, yet we wish to acknowledge their deeds in a commendable fashion. Like Jesus, when commending someone, we make a statement of truth that exalts the soul rather than chastising it, as some in Simon’s house wished to do (Mark 14: 4 – 5). That point is a lesson within itself.
What more this woman might have done, we will never know. We know nothing about her other than she was a sinner (a fact Jesus also acknowledged, Luke 7:47-48) and that she expressed extreme humility and repentance in her deed of kindness toward Jesus. Regardless of what those in Simon’s house felt she could have or should have done, Jesus said, “She hath done what she could.” Nothing more was expected of her!
Why are folks so eager to expect more from those who have done something kind? The only answer I can imagine is “greed.” Expecting more than someone can do is expecting far too much! Doing less than any of us can do is equally wrong! Notice what Jesus said: “So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.” (Luke 17:10) Many are satisfied with doing less than their duty. We all should be willing to do more than we can and yet regret our inability to accomplish our desires!
It seems strange that blessings are so often measured materially rather than spiritually. Solomon observed, “He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 5:10) But one who is truly grateful for both spiritual and temporal blessings, is not selfish and willing to give to him that needeth. (1 John 3: 16 – 18) Some possess more than others and therefore can give/do more than others. The question is, “Have we done what we could?” or do we hold back, thinking others will contribute to the need, and we need not give all we can?
This concern is especially important when we consider the spiritual needs of our brethren. When it comes to helping others, doing so materially often seems easiest. Throw some money at the problem, and it goes away, right? No sir! When spiritual necessities exist, nothing of a material sort, or even of human philosophical nature, will suffice! When spiritual help is needed, only God’s word will suffice! Further, the provision of God’s Word must come forth in the manner that His Son or the inspired apostles would have presented it: in love, yet firmly and without compromise! Still, when truth is presented by “putting our finger on the verse” to prove our correctness, some will reject it as not being “enough.” Often, that means it isn’t enough to satisfy the desires of the erring; they are seeking some “justification” for their neglect of righteousness, and there is no justification that can be given! Still, when we have encouraged their study and understanding of God’s truth, have proven God’s Word condemns their convictions, and have proven our love for their soul, but our rejection of their conduct in word or deed, we have done what we could! There is nothing more within our capabilities. If God’s word doesn’t convince souls of sin, there is nothing else we can use!
So, we must do what we can, for we can do no more! God asks nothing more of us than our best, but He expects nothing less of His servants! Can we improve? Certainly, and we must (2 Peter 3:18). And so, as our abilities increase, so must our provision of those deeds of loving kindness, both spiritually and temporally. Never let it be said we held back. Instead, let’s do what we can!