Doing What We Can: Faithfulness in Service

In Mark 14, as Jesus dined at Simon the leper’s house, Mary broke an alabaster box of extremely costly ointment and anointed Jesus, preparing Him for burial. This act, worth nearly a year’s wages, drew criticism from the disciples, especially Judas, who saw it as wasteful. Yet, Jesus commended Mary, saying, “She has done what she could.” This phrase encapsulates a profound principle: God desires each of us to do what we can, with what we have, where we are. He does not expect us to exceed our abilities or opportunities, but He does expect us to use both fully for His glory.

God’s commandments are not burdensome; they are tailored to our capacity and circumstance. Opportunity and ability are the two factors that define what we can do for God. We are not responsible for what is beyond our reach, but we are accountable for what is within it. When we are faithful with little, God entrusts us with more—just as in the parable of the talents, where those who were responsible with their gifts received greater opportunities and abilities.

This principle applies to every area of Christian living. In Bible study, we are called to diligently handle the Word of God, not out of obligation, but out of a desire to know Him and grow in faith. In our attendance at worship, we must resist the temptation to do the bare minimum, recognizing that neglecting the assembly is a serious matter. Helping those in need is not just a suggestion but a mark of pure religion; even the smallest act, like offering a cup of cold water, is significant if it is all we can do. In giving, God values the heart and sacrifice behind the gift, as seen in the widow who gave her last two mites—her entire livelihood.

Ultimately, the question is deeply personal: Am I doing all I can for the Lord? Not in comparison to others, but in light of my own opportunities and abilities. God does not demand perfection, but He does require our best. If we find ourselves falling short, the call is to change—to break the cycle of complacency and to offer every part of our lives for His glory.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s Expectation Is Proportional to Our Capacity God does not require from us what is beyond our ability or opportunity. He expects us to use what we have, where we are, to the fullest. This means that our faithfulness is measured not by comparison to others, but by our own stewardship of what God has entrusted to us. The comfort and challenge is that we are accountable for our own opportunities and abilities, not those of others. [06:03]
• 2. Faithfulness in Small Things Leads to Greater Responsibility When we are diligent and faithful with the little we have, God increases our opportunities and abilities. This principle is seen in the parable of the talents and in the qualifications for church leadership—those who prove themselves in small matters are entrusted with more. Our growth in service and influence is directly tied to our willingness to be responsible with what we already possess. [10:33]
• 3. Self-Examination in Key Areas of Christian Life We are called to honestly assess whether we are doing all we can in areas like Bible study, worship attendance, helping those in need, and giving. This is not about legalism or checking boxes, but about wholehearted devotion and intentional living. The question is not whether others are doing their part, but whether I am fully engaged in my own walk with God. [15:02]
• 4. Sacrificial Giving Is Commended by God God values the heart and sacrifice behind our giving more than the amount. The widow who gave her last two mites was praised by Jesus because she gave all she had, not out of abundance but out of poverty. True generosity is measured by what it costs us, and God sees and honors even the smallest gifts when they represent our best. [25:29]
• 5. The Call to Change Is Always Open If we recognize that we are not doing all we can, the invitation is to change—to take practical steps toward greater faithfulness. God’s grace is available, and He desires that we break the cycle of complacency and pursue a life that brings Him glory in every area. The journey begins with honest self-reflection and a willingness to act on what we know is right.
  
  ** [28:24]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:22] - Jesus Anointed at Simon’s House
• [01:10] - The Value of Mary’s Sacrifice
• [01:53] - The Story in All Four Gospels
• [03:19] - “She Has Done What She Could”
• [04:28] - Principle: God Expects What We Can Do
• [06:03] - Opportunity and Ability
• [07:18] - Unique Abilities and Responsibilities
• [08:14] - Accountability for Our Own Opportunities
• [09:17] - God Wants Our Best, Not Perfection
• [10:33] - Faithfulness Multiplies Opportunity
• [13:01] - Leadership: Faithful in Little, Faithful in Much
• [15:02] - Self-Examination: Are You Doing All You Can?
• [15:45] - Bible Study: Diligence and Devotion
• [17:31] - Worship Attendance: Beyond the Bare Minimum
• [20:29] - Helping Those in Need
• [22:57] - Giving: Sacrifice and Cheerfulness
• [25:29] - The Widow’s Mite: Giving All
• [27:13] - The Call to Change and Respond

Bible Reading

Mark 14:3-9 (ESV) — > And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”

1 John 5:2-3 (ESV) — > By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

Luke 21:1-4 (ESV) — > Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Observation Questions

1. In Mark 14, what did Mary do for Jesus, and how did the disciples react to her action? ([01:53])
2. According to 1 John 5:3, how does John describe God’s commandments? Are they meant to be a heavy burden? ([05:31])
3. In Luke 21, what made the widow’s offering stand out to Jesus compared to the gifts of the rich? ([25:29])
4. What phrase did Jesus use to commend Mary, and why is it significant in the context of the story? ([03:19])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus valued Mary’s act of anointing him, even though others saw it as wasteful? What does this reveal about what God values? ([03:19])
2. The sermon says God’s expectations are “proportional to our capacity.” How does this principle challenge or comfort you when you think about your own abilities and opportunities? ([06:03])
3. In the story of the widow’s mite, why does Jesus praise her giving, even though it was a small amount? What does this teach us about the heart behind our actions? ([25:29])
4. The sermon mentions that God does not expect perfection, but He does expect our best. How is this different from just “doing the bare minimum”? ([09:17])

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenges us to ask, “Am I doing all I can for the Lord?” In which area of your life—Bible study, worship attendance, helping others, or giving—do you feel you are not doing all you can? What is one step you could take this week to change that? ([15:02])
2. When you think about your opportunities and abilities, are there ways you might be comparing yourself to others instead of focusing on what God has given you? How can you shift your mindset to be more faithful with your own gifts? ([08:44])
3. The story of Mary and the widow both involve sacrificial giving. Is there something in your life that you have been holding back from God because it feels too costly? What would it look like to offer it to Him? ([25:29])
4. The sermon says that even small acts, like offering a cup of cold water, matter to God if that’s all we can do. Can you think of a “small” act of service you could do this week for someone in need? ([21:39])
5. Sometimes we settle for “the bare minimum” in our spiritual lives. What are some practical ways you can resist complacency and pursue wholehearted devotion in your walk with God? ([18:08])
6. The call to change is always open. If you realize you’ve been complacent, what is one practical step you can take to “break the cycle” and move toward greater faithfulness? ([28:24])
7. The sermon mentions that God increases our opportunities and abilities when we are faithful with little. Can you share a time when being faithful in a small thing led to greater responsibility or blessing in your life? ([10:33])