So yesterday I’m celebrating me sister’s birthday and eventually get to speak to her today – being so busy with all her calls and stuff was obviously very tiring work. Anyway, whilst conversing I come across a phrase that I never considered properly until it came out of my mouth.
“It’s the least I could do.”
What on earth do we mean by that? What is that saying to someone we love, respect and admire when they discover the actions and thoughts that have been expressed is the least available? How much do we value someone for whom what we’ve just done is the very least?
I know it could be worse. I know we could say “that’s the most I could do” for something that might appear very paltry indeed. Although I reckon you could understand someone who says that if they’re doing something sacrificially. On this issue of the least however, there is no get out clause.
I’m not sure my children would appreciate it if they realised that the effort their dad has gone into something is just the least I could do. I know for sure my wife would be somewhat disappointed (No. 32 of 116 Great Understatements of the 21st Century) if noticing my efforts and endeavour she discovers that this is the least I could do.
After these, of course, then I consider creation and all that’s about. God relating to man through the ages. The life and times of Jesus Christ. The ultimate sacrifice and the ultimate victory over sin, death and the grave. The end of all things and eternal life with God and the saints. That does not sound by any stretch of the imagination as though this is the least God can do.
So it’s no surprise that the challenge of life is not to deliver the least I can do, but the very best. The challenge is to offer my best in every circumstance of life as an act of worship to God and service to my fellow human being. If God in Jesus Christ gave His very best so that I could be reunited, redeemed and restored to the fullness of the image in which He created me, I can only offer to God everything. In doing so whether there is earthly recognition for that, whether people value it for what it is, whether plaudits come in or its met with apathy, there is the concept of fulfilment and contentment in doing what I’ve been called and equipped to do.
That’s as much about resting and allowing myself to recover in order to be diligent in my giving as it is in the act of giving of myself anyway. Might as well give my all in what I do as I follow in the example of One who gave His all to the point of death and resurrection.
After all, it’s the least I could do.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
dmcd
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