Small Things with Great Love

“Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?” 

John 12:5

Jesus was in Bethany in the house of his friends Lazarus, Martha and Mary. While Jesus was reclining at the table, Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. Spikenard during Bible times was used to anoint those of high honor, and symbolized the very best, like the “gold standard” does today. 

Because it was very expensive, perhaps worth 3 years’ wages, Judas Iscariot was indignant. “It could have been sold and the money given to the poor!” What he did not realize was that whatever we give to Jesus will never be wasted. Our time, our money, our resources, our gifts and talents.  Whatever we give, He will use and multiply a hundredfold. 

Some people may think time in prayer, time spent reading the Bible, is a waste of time.

But that is because they do not see invisible things!

Many people thought Mother Teresa was wasting her life on the poorest of the poor. But she was really wasting her life on Jesus. “Each one of them is Jesus in disguise,” she declared.  "If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one." And then one of my favorites: “In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love."

Are we wasting our life doing small things with great love? We also should remember that just as the fragrance of the spikenard remained on Mary’s hands and hair, when we love extravagantly, do good generously, we too are left with happy feelings and experience less stress. 

Each one of us is unique and precious and has a role in building the kingdom of heaven. Lord, may I do my very best with the small things you have given me to do. May I not count it as a waste when I give my time, talent and treasure to Your work.