09. An Example Of Total Commitment

9 -- AN EXAMPLE OF TOTAL COMMITMENT Of what value is a well-prepared plan if there is no one to put that plan into action? History reveals to us that several of our present-day accomplishments were actually on the drawing board generations ago, but there was little interest taken in them at the time. The plan was the first step in tremendous developments, but there was no one to implement that plan. Certainly what is true on the level of human accomplishment is true also in the realm of spiritual accomplishment. God has given to us a plan for the regeneration of the world; He has set in motion the forces that are sufficient to meet the heart need of every individual, yet His plan falls short of success if we fail to put it into effect. When you look at the plan from God’s standpoint, you recognize the fact that God has done all that a holy God could possibly do to make provision for humanity both in this world and the world to come. There can be no question at all concerning the completeness of the price paid for our redemption upon Calvary; the question is not whether God has done His best, but have we done our best? Why are there more lost souls in the world today than at the time of the crucifixion? Why have we been able to accomplish so little in relation to the tremendous need of this lost world? Can we point an accusing finger at God? Or must we look at our own failure in this regard? Certainly there would be no way to justify any finger pointing when it comes to the provision that God has made for us. If there is any spiritual delinquency to report, it is a delinquency on our part; we have failed to do all that we might have done for His cause and kingdom. Surely if we will do what we can, there will be no more required of us.

I think of the example given to us in Mark 14:1-72 where we read about the woman with the box of precious ointment. We have here a very outstanding example of sacrificial devotion ±o Jesus Christ. She came to anoint Jesus for His burial and the gift that she brought to Him was an expression of the deepest concern of her heart. She gave and the fragrance of her gift reaches down to our present generation. It is a memorial to her and a challenge to us. We must enter into the kind of devotion that costs us something. We dare not become negligent or careless in this regard. Certainly there is no price too great for any individual to pay in making Christ known to a lost and perishing world.

There are several things about this woman’s devotion that I feel hold tremendous significance for each of God’s children. First of all, I notice that she was greatly affected by the life of Christ. Jesus had a great impact upon her life. Certainly people do not go around pouring out costly ointment on individuals unless they have some concept of the value of that person. She so valued the life of Christ that her richest possession was not too good to be poured out in His behalf. It would appear that she cared not at all for the cost that she was putting into her devotion. It was so insignificant compared to the things Christ had accomplished in her life. I’m sure what is true of this individual is true of every individual who comes in contact with Christ. My friend, when you meet the Master, you are willing to do anything that is necessary to be done; there is no price too high but you are willing to pay it. Any service that He might enjoin upon your life is done with a sense of gratitude for all that He has done for you. This woman felt Jesus was entitled to her deepest devotion. How unworthy she must have felt as she knelt before Him pouring out the costly ointment upon Him. Yet how worthy she must have felt Him to be. Even though an atmosphere of criticism prevailed about her, she did not allow it to dampen her desire for the outpouring of her deepest devotion. While she was worshipping Christ as though nothing else in life mattered, they were finding fault with her sacrifice as if everything else in life mattered. How blind they were to true values. How destitute they were of the rich blessings that result from doing something for Jesus Christ. Somehow they failed to realize the importance of Christ and the importance of our devotion to Him. What a tribute is paid to this woman. In the simplest terms possible, Jesus expresses His gratitude. It took no more than one sentence to epitomize the far-reaching effect of this act of devotion, and it stands out in bold relief as a challenge to you and me yet today. In those brief words, "She did what she could," Jesus gives expression to the feelings of the great heart of God in regard to our own devotion. I believe as God measures your life and mine, He seeks to find this same quality of service: He is interested in finding that we have done what we were able to do. Certainly He could ask no more, and we should expect Him to accept no less. He who has given to us His best, has every right to expect that we will render our best in behalf of His kingdom.

Again I notice that this woman was putting forth an effort to preserve the body of Christ. This was the purpose of the outpouring of the ointment. Jesus mentions the fact that it was done in preparation for His burial. Certainly we have here an outstanding type of Christian responsibility. Just as this woman had done what she could in preserving the physical body of Christ, so we are to do what we can to preserve the spiritual body of Christ which is the church. The church is the body of Christ, and we must pour out our very lives to preserve it. This individual had reached the extremity of her ability and Jesus crowned it with the divine approval by stating that it was all that she could possibly get done. O! How welcome those words will be to each child of God who has striven to do the Master’s bidding! Certainly I would ask for no greater tribute from the lips of Christ than for Him to say that I have done all that it was possible for me to do. I wonder if this could be said of us?

I believe we see in this expression of Christ the natural demands of the Christian conscience. Surely our conscience would demand that we do our best. Anything less than your best is less than you ought to be doing . . . .

Again I would notice that by preserving the body of Christ, she was, in effect, preserving herself. By pouring out her own life, she was preserving it. It is only as we give to others that we derive benefits. As we help to preserve the work of missions, we are helping to preserve our own best interests. God will be no man’s debtor and all that we do in His behalf will be abundantly repaid. There is not a tear you shed, nor a gift you give, that ever escapes the notice of God. He sees your interest and concern and rewards every effort we put forth. This woman who had shared with Him her alabaster box was privileged to share in His glory. O! The needs of the work are so pressing and the things needing to be done so many. Are you doing what you can? Will you not pray with us that others will read these lines and join with us by doing what they can to help get Christ’s message to a lost and perishing world?

* * * * * * *