Have you ever asked yourself these questions, “Where do I, as a regular Christian believer, fit in the grand scheme of spreading the gospel and changing the spiritual environment of our world? Or, “What can I personally do that would make a difference, and help stem the tide of ungodliness that threatens this generation ?”
Writing about the contribution any one individual can make to a cause greater than himself, 19th Century Minister and author, Edward Evert Hale, said, “I am only one, but,still I am one, I cannot do everything, but I can do something. I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do!”
It is most unfortunate, that many dedicated followers of Jesus Christ and those who wish to raise His Blood Stained banner, have been told; “Unless, your personal testimony or act of service is unusual and within the realm of the dramatic or spectacular, it will probably be of little value”. Such negative oppression by the enemy and his minions, have caused many people who have been cleansed at the well of salvation, and lifted from the darkness of sin’s bondage, to fold the Banner of Christ and serve the Lord in the solitude of silence.
Those who acquiesce to such an argument, do so, thinking, what they have to give will make no meaningful difference or lasting impact on anyone. When dispatching His disciples to ”Go into the whole world and preach the gospel,” tells them, “Whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my Name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward,”(Mark 9:41).
He wanted them to understand, they should not discount the value of the smallest act of kindness or compassionate benevolence. There will be times, when, that which is most needed will be something as simple as, “A cup of water in My Name!”
As has often been said, “Little is much when God is in it.” It may be just a word of encouragement to someone struggling in the pit of loneliness or despair; a sympathetic and anointed prayer for one who is sick and suffering; a bag of much need groceries; or a
heartfelt testimony about how Christ has changed your life. Nothing dramatic or spectacular, just “A Cup of Water,” given in the Name of Jesus.
In 1963, my wife and I, were young and newly married. We began our Pastoral ministry in a small town of 600 residents on the Western Slope of the Colorado Rocky Mountains.
The Church to which we were called was very small, with limited resources to support a Pastor, therefore, it became necessary for me to work, picking fruit in season, at the nearby orchards; painting houses; mowing lawns, and because I found favor with Mr. Taylor the local Mortician, I was given the opportunity to preach many funerals at the local
mortuary, ($5.00 per service). My wife gave piano lessons and played the organ at the funeral home, to help meet our needs. Our income could only be described as, ‘meager.’
On one, beautiful Western Colorado day, I was determined to visit and pray with a number of shut-ins, including one elderly lady who lived about four miles out of our small mountain town. The problem was, our car sat in front of our parsonage out of gas and I had no money to buy gas. I spent that morning visiting folks in town and handing out copies of our denominational publication, “The Pentecost Evangel”.
However, to visit our dear sister outside of town, it would be necessary for me to catch a
ride or walk to her home. Coming home for lunch, I received a call from Mrs. Hutchins, an elderly neighbor who was a member of another Church. She was a dear lady, with whom, I had often visited and prayed. Answering the phone, Sister Hutchins, ask if I would stop by her house as soon as possible, because there was something she wanted to discuss with me.
Finishing my lunch, I hurried to Mrs. Hutchins small home, where she answered the door and invited me in. Once inside, she asked me to sit down, and then, she excused herself and went into her bedroom.
Her living room was small and dimly lit. It was heated with a coal stove in the corner, the smoke of which had darkened the walls and ceiling, causing it to seem even darker, and leaving the odor of burning coal.
Sitting there, I wondered what sister Hutchins could possibly want to discuss with me Perhaps, she wanted me to pray about a weakness in her body, or some other pressing personal need. I was anxious to hear.
In only a few moments, she came back into the living room holding a small tea cup in her hand. Handing the cup to me, she said, “Pastor, this morning while in prayer, God told me to give this to you.” I took the cup from her eighty year old hand and when I looked inside, I saw it was about half-filled with dimes, which, when I counted them, amounted to just
over two dollars.
Knowing, Mrs. Hutchins meager income, and being sure she needed every dime in that cup, I was reluctant to take it. However, she insisted, telling me, “I am obeying the leading of the Lord.” I was humbled by her kindness and willingness to obey the leading of the Lord, I thanked her, had prayer with her, and went on my way.
In 1963, gasoline was thirty cents a gallon. With Mrs. Hutchins cup of dimes, I could buy seven gallons of gas, and I could now drive out to visit and pray with the little lady outside town, and my wife and I would have gas in our car for about two weeks. Sister Hutchins’ small tea cup was not filled with water, but dimes, and it was a much needed blessing.
Little did this dear lady know, the value of her cup. It was far greater than seven gallons of gasoline! It was a lifetime lesson learned by a young Pastor that, “I cannot do everything, but I can do something!” It was also evidence, God knows our every need, and “He, works in a mysterious way,His wonders to perform.” Some people might say, Mrs. Hutchins’ cup of dimes was just two dollars. That’s nothing! My response to such people is…try convincing a young Pastor and his wife who needed
gasoline in their car it was nothing.
To us, it was a miracle of God’s provision made possible by the compassion and obedience of a frail little widow, willing to obey the leading of the Lord. I have carried the memory of Mrs. Hutchins’ cup of dimes with me for more than fifty years of Pastoral ministry. It has inspired me to never allow, “What I cannot do to interfere with what I can do.”
It was also the basis for my encouraging countless people to do even the smallest thing in obedience to the direction of the Holy Spirit.
I have written of this wonderful experience in my life to encourage God’s People to ignore those who scoff at the value of your testimony or gift of service, and follow the example of a poor widow, even, if it is, “Just A Cup Of Dimes.”
The Shepherd's Staff 