I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. - Helen Keller
I came across this quote a few weeks ago and fell in love with it instantly. When I initially read it, it seemed to be a simple thought. However, I have allowed it to simmer on my mind for awhile and I can now see the broad vastness and depth that it embodies.
It is me.
Ever since I got saved and gave my life to Jesus Christ, I have wanted to do something great for Him. Something BIG for Him. I believe that is (or should be) a natural desire of any Christian.
My problem is that I look at what I do, my service for Him, through my eyes; from a human perspective and I see how small it is. I am not drawing in the masses. I'm not traveling the globe, spreading out the Gospel seed from continent to continent.
I'm here. In Bismarck, North Dakota. I work in customer service. I don't do anything great and noble. I don't run a big ministry that touches the lives of thousands of people. I'm not on a foreign field. I'm here. I get up and go to work 5 days a week.
But I've had that quote on my mind and the other day I was reading my Bible and came across the story of the woman who gave 2 mites that is found in Mark 12.
"And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury; and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living." - Mark 12:41-44
To everyone there at that treasury, I'm sure it seemed like she was not giving much, at least not in comparison to what others were giving.
But Jesus noticed her. He noticed that although she didn't have much to give, she gave what she could.
That's when He turned to me and started talking to me about what I do and brought that quote to mind. I may not have much to offer Him but I need to offer everything I have. It all comes from Him anyways. Its not like He doesn't know what I do or don't have to offer - He knows. He made me.
He also knows if am holding something back from Him. Oooh. That was a sobering thought. He didn't hold anything back from me. He gave His all for me; His blood, His breath, His very life...for me. How could I possibly even think of holding something back from Him?
So although it is my desire and I do long to do something great and noble for the Lord because of what He has done for me, I need to do every humble task He gives me as though it is great and noble. Whether that be passing out tracts on a chilly Saturday night or scrubbing the toilet at church or cleaning a cobweb off the ceiling fan, if God gave me the ability to do it and shows me He wants it done, then I will do it.
Honestly, if you think about it, could there be anything more noble than to do what the King of Kings has asked you to do?
I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. - Helen Keller
