I have a book on my desk, (She Did What She Could), about Mary of Bethany. We know her from the Scriptures as the sister of the hardworking, hospitable Martha, in Luke 10. We also know her as the sister of the “up from the grave” Lazarus in John 11. The setting of the story is their home in Bethany, about one and a half miles from Jerusalem. The event takes place just days before the Jesus’ Triumphal entry into Jerusalem and a little more than a week before His death on the cross. In the telling of her story by Mark in chapter 14 of the gospel which he wrote, one can see several things happen in response to her actions.
Though Simon could have been just another follower of Jesus, he is more likely the elderly – and healed – father of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. According to John 12, the criticizing voice in the crowd was that of Judas Iscariot, who, known to have been greedy and a thief, helped himself to what was in the disciple’s’ money bag. Other references indicate that some of the disciples were critical of the extravagance of Mary’s act (Matthew 26) *
Although the story is told from different perspectives and gives different details, depending on which Gospel account you read, one important detail remains the same: At this juncture of human history as God chose to pair with a girl the preaching of the Gospel, Jesus declares the why in verse eight of chapter fourteen of Mark. Jesus said, “Let her alone… She has done what she could…” Leave her along she is doing what I created her to do.
All around her that day were important people doing what looked like important things. What Mary did really didn’t fit it seemed to many. Martha was busy being Martha. In charge, hardworking thinking no one should ever consider anything but busy, busy, busy and complaining about the fact everyone didn’t do like she did (Luke 10). Simon was so caught up in being a host and important he failed to provide the necessary. Judas was concerned about the amount of money in the account and its personal effect on him. Other disciples were acting and being very religious. Some of the actions were no doubt important actions. But the fact remains the reason Mary did what she did was it was what she could do. Just like Jesus explained, she did what she could do and she no doubt was happy to do it. She was happy being Mary.
In the story of the Talents and the story of the Pounds in Matthew 24 and in Luke 19 the opposite of Mary is seen in the description of the one talent servant. He didn’t do what he could.
After looking at these two stories I think it’s really important, Biblically important, that we become comfortable in our own skin. That we get content being who God created us to be. Each one of us has been uniquely designed by the Almighty with purpose and a plan to help make a difference in the kingdom of God. Everyone is blessed with abilities and talents. Some more than others, we only have to look around to see that. Yet, no matter how talented or how limited in talents you might be we are all required to do with our live what God has designed us to do. God plans on us being comfortable being who He made us to be. There is a certain level of contentment, happiness and joy that comes when we relish being who God made us to be. But there is also discontentment, lack of joy and little happiness in life for those who will not enjoy being who God called them to be. Look at the one talented servant in Matthew 24.
• He was discontent being who he was. He didn’t think his talent mattered. To feel this way he had to be some-what pouting about what he received. People who are not happy in their own skin often sulk and complain that they didn’t get the right breaks. They are always dragging around. The reason the one talent servant must have buried his ability was out of fear he said but the truth be known it very well was because he was discontent with his gift. The Lord strongly rebuked his excuse as being very lame.
• He seemed to forget who was passing out the gifts. His Lord knew what he could do so the Lord gave him what he could make the most of. When we are not comfortable being who God made us to be we are forgetting who created us. When we are upset being who we are or we complain about how we are created we are really saying God didn’t do very good. Remember God never makes mistakes. He cannot fail. You may not like you but God made you on purpose and with purpose and God like you. The sooner we realize this the quicker we can become content being who the Almighty created us to be.
• He forgot how serious the Almighty is about His stuff. The Lord of the servant not only rebuked the actions of the servant but punished him forever over how he used what the Lord gave him. We must remember, we may be discontent with how God made us but we will still have to give an account one day on how well we did with what we were given. If we fail to not do what we can do we will end in the wrong position in eternity.
If you are quote, “living for God” and you still don’t enjoy living a content life. If you find yourself struggling without a certain level of happiness and joy, then you need to see how well you are doing living in your own skin. How well are you at being who God has created you to be? Are you doing what you can? You might find you are spending too much time wishing you were like someone else. You may be spending too much time trying to jockey into a place where you can’t perform. Trying to be someone God didn’t intend on you being. You may be wasting you days wishing you were something else. STOP! Be all God planned on you being and enjoy the journey being you. God made you and He don’t make junk. Start growing the things the Almighty stuffed in your life and learn to enjoy being you.
Now stop right there and don’t allow this writing to become an excuse. Being happy in your own skin is not a reason to sin or live a destructive life. Living in your own skin is not a blessing to be:
Immoral or sinful. We should never excuse immoral behavior or sinful actions by saying something like, “That’s just how I am!” God didn’t create you with a barnyard mentality or immoral action of life. You are doing that on your own and it too will cost you in eternity if you refuse to change. (1 Corinthians 6:9)
To not take care of your life. Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost (1Corinthians 6:19). When we fail to take care of it we are becoming destructive to God’s temple. The church and religion has always as a whole declared that destructive habits like drug and alcohol addictions are sinful because they destroy the temple of God. The same is preached about smoking. I agree these things are destructive to the temple of our body and we need to get them out of our life. Yet we also tend to forget some other things that are written clearly about in scripture. Things like over-eating and lack of rest. These two are mentioned in name in scripture. Stop telling yourself that you are just overweight because God made you that way. No you are that way because you lack discipline. Stop using God as an excuse to not take care of your body. You will be a much happier and content you if you would lose some weight, get some exercise and learn to really rest.
So, look at your life, the one God created. What changes do you need to make to be content in your own skin? God made you and packed your life with His purpose for you. No one else can be you. Its time you started really living for God. You can do that by doing what you can. Be happy in your own skin. God made that skin.
*Portion taken from She Did What She Could by Elisa Morgan
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