What Can I Give?

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgement, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: Prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness. Romans 12:3-8 (NRSV)

Paul wrote, "[The Lord] said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness,' "

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

Every Christmas Ken Claar, from Idaho, gets a little depressed. In this season, Christians do many things to make life brighter for others. But Ken can't do the majority of them since his age prevents him from driving or doing much physical activity.

One Christmas, however, Ken kept hearing the song "The Little Drummer Boy." It changed his focus from what I can't do to what I can. The Lyrics of the song explain that the little drummer boy couldn't buy a gift or do something brave for the Christ child, so he didn't think he had anything to offer. But then he realized one thing he could do: play a song for Jesus.

So Ken quit thinking about what he couldn't do and started concentrating on what he can do. He can pray: he can be cheerful and friendly to those he met at the senior center; he can celebrate Jesus' birth at his church. Sometimes God helps us to do things we don't realize we can. And God will honor even seemingly small actions if they are done to glorify God. So like the little drummer boy who played his very best for Jesus, we can do our best and honor God with our service.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us do our best for you in whatever ways we are able, in Jesus' name. Amen