Just last week I went to early voting and ran into the daughter of my 9th Grade English Teacher, Geraldine Rector. One of the only “A’s” I ever made in English was in Mrs. Rector’s class at Drexel Junior High School. I will never forget our first assignment she gave us that year. It was a quote we had to memorize and say in front of the class. And, literally I have not forgotten it and will not forget it because it made such a lasting impression on me.
The quote was, “I am only one, but I am one. I can’t do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I ought to do. And, what I ought to do, by the grace of God I will do.” Years later after thinking about it all my life and reading a book by this title, I have condensed that quote to simply, “Go and do!” In other words, you might not be the best, the most talented, the most gifted, or the most of anything. But you are gifted with talents and skills in a unique way by your creator, God. Quit putting off doing something great for someone else and the cause of Christ. Just do something! Be willing to go and do!
When you are willing to be used by God, God will indeed use you. You might not know all that you need to know about what he is calling you to do but that doesn’t matter. If an opportunity to serve someone else comes your way, receive it as a sign from God to simply, “Go and do!” In the days and months to come God will most likely reveal the big picture to you. But even if it remains a mystery and continues to be an isolated event or series of events that you have no idea of a bigger picture, at least you did something and helped somebody else. That is what our lives is supposed to be about while we are living.
In Matthew 25, Jesus told us what really matters in life. It is not how many rewards you have received, how much you are praised or recognized, how talented you are, etc. It is about how you humbled yourself and served someone else. Jesus spoke of serving those in need of food, water, hospitality, clothes, care, and visiting.
Jesus said, “34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’” (Matthew 25:34-45).
What I really love in this passage is the question posed by the ones who served the people who were in need. They simply asked the King (who is Jesus), “When did we do all of this for you?” That is so amazing to me. They did it simply because someone was in need. They didn’t do it because they were “gifted” at it or to get recognition for it. They simply did it because someone was in need and it needed to be done. In other words, they simply went and did something.
So, who are the ones around you with a need? Those in need of food, water, hospitality, clothes, care, and visiting? Don’t overthink it! Don’t make excuses because you don’t feel qualified, gifted, or too busy! Just do something! Just go and do! And, what you might find is that you served Jesus as you met a need in someone else’s life! Go and do! Just simply help somebody!