Do What You Can
Mark 14:3-9
Introduction: As we grow older one of the most common challenges I hear from people is, “Pastor, I just can’t do what I used to could do”! Have you heard it? Said it? I respond by saying, “Don’t worry about what you can’t do….just do what you can….just do what you can”! Mark, the secretary of Peter, describes what happened with a woman who, “DID WHAT SHE COULD!”
1. Do WHAT you can in SERVING the Lord Jesus! (Mark 14:3-8)
“3And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. 4And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? 5For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. 6And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. 7For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. 8She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.”
• Seize the Opportunity while you can! (v 8)
• Instead of being Faithless, be Fruitful! (v 7)
2. Do WHAT you can in GIVING to the Lord Jesus! (Mark 14:3-7)
“3And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. 4And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? 5For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. 6And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. 7For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.”
• Give with a cheerful heart (2 Cor 9:7)
• Give with a sacrificial heart (Luke 6:38)
3. Do WHAT you CAN regardless of being criticized for loving the Lord Jesus! (Mark 14:4,5)
“4And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? 5For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. 6And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.”
• Some will not understand (v 4)
• Greed is rampant
4. Do WHAT you CAN for the Lord Jesus and He will HONOR you! (Mark 14:9)
“9Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.”
• A memorial here (v 9)
• A memorial in heaven
Conclusion: Are we DOING WHAT we can for the Lord Jesus? Expect critics to bash the way you do things! But remember WHO you are doing it for, and WHY you are doing it! Listen to the commendable words of Jesus,
“She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. 9Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.”
That will be worth it all!
Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese