Do What You Can

This past Wednesday I took an accreditation exam with the VA, which was on the heels of a rigid pre-qualification combined with referrals, a background check and a decision of worthiness to take the exam.  I passed!  But I am not yet accredited.  My file has be sent to a supervisory attorney in Washington for his review and final determination.

So what do I do now?  I pray and leave it in the hands of the Lord.  There is nothing else for me to do.  When you've done all that you can, you can't do any more and nothing more is expected.  Do you remember what Jesus said to those who were criticizing the woman you poured the expensive perfume on Jesus?  He told them to leave her alone for, "She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial" (Mk 14:8).

Whatever someone else might have been able to have done.  Whatever else someone else might have wanted her to have done.  She did what she knew to do with what she had.  She did what she could.  That was all God wanted of her.

The apostle Paul put it this way, "For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have" (2 Cor 8:12).  God accepts the best that we know to do with what we have, not what someone else has or knows.

This is an extremely important truth of personal service and faithfulness before God.  It is not for others to determine what we should give or how we should give it.  It is up to us, as my brother Gary has often said to me, "according to our skills and abilities."  God has gifted us all (cf. Rom 12; 1 Cor 12) and he desires that we use those gifts to his glory and the blessing of ourselves and others.

While we may need some direction in determining and honing those gifts as well as some guidance in putting them to use, it is ultimately up to each individual to "do what you can."  As it is written:

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully" (Rom 12:6-8).

Jus' Say'n.