“She hath done what she could…” — Mark 14:8

The room was crowded, the air rich with the aroma of roasted meat and freshly baked bread. Conversations hummed, laughter rippled, and then—silence.

A woman stepped forward, an alabaster jar trembling in her hands. She didn’t ask permission. She didn’t seek approval. She simply broke the jar and poured out the perfume—costly, extravagant—over Jesus’ head.

And just like that, the criticism began. “What a waste!” someone scoffed. “That could have been sold and given to the poor!” another grumbled.

She heard their whispers. Felt their stares. But Jesus? He saw her heart.

“Leave her alone,” He said. “She has done what she could.”

When Opinions Weigh You Down

People will always have opinions—about how you spend your time, how you use your gifts, whether your offering is enough.

The critics will come, calculators in hand, measuring what you have rather than what you give. That’s how they operate. They analyze. They assess. They assign value. But Jesus? He sees the love in the sacrifice.

The disciples weren’t upset about what the woman did; they were upset about what they thought she wasted. They saw price tags. Jesus saw worship. And that’s the difference.

If you listen too closely to the critics, you’ll always feel like you fall short. But look at this woman—she didn’t wait for the perfect moment. She didn’t second-guess. She simply did what she could. And Jesus called it beautiful.

But what if she had hesitated? What if she had let their opinions stop her? What if she had convinced herself that her offering wasn’t good enough?

That’s where so many of us get stuck—not because we have nothing to offer, but because we fear it won’t be perfect.

The Trap of Perfection

Excellence offers its best. Perfection fears its worst. One leads to obedience; the other leads to paralysis.

Perfection whispers, “If you can’t do it flawlessly, don’t do it at all.” So we hesitate. We overanalyze. We let doubt convince us that what we have to give isn’t worth giving.

But look at this moment. Christ—the only perfect One—didn’t commend the woman for flawless execution. He didn’t applaud her for getting everything “just right.” He honored her for one thing: faithfulness.

“She did what she could.”

And that was enough. It’s always been enough.

• A shepherd’s staff in the hands of Moses split the sea.
• A slingshot in the hands of David toppled a giant.
• Two copper coins in the hands of a widow outgave the wealthy.
• A boy’s lunch in the hands of Jesus fed thousands.

Not one of these offerings looked like enough. Not one of them impressed the crowds. But in the hands of God, they became more than anyone imagined.

And so will yours.

Nothing Given in Love Is Ever Wasted

The disciples called it a waste. Jesus called it worship.  What seemed insignificant to others became an act of devotion remembered for generations.

The same is true for you. The small kindness you offer. The time you give. The prayers you pray. They are not wasted. Because in the hands of Jesus, even the simplest act of faith becomes something sacred.

And one day, when all is said and done, the voices of the critics will fade. The measurements of men will disappear. And what will remain? A Savior who remembers.

A Memorial Before God

Jesus didn’t merely defend this woman—He honored her.

“Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.” —Mark 14:9

Her gift wasn’t measured by its size but by her love. And that love—poured out with faith—became a story for the ages. The nameless critics in the room have faded into history, but her devotion remains woven into the gospel itself.

 

So, what’s in your hands today?  Maybe it seems small. Maybe it goes unnoticed. Maybe the voices whisper, It is not enough.  But when given in love, it is always enough.

 

And in the eyes of Jesus, it is always worth remembering.