It's the Least I Could Do

By Gobel Brockman


     On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. A lot happened that day, but with a news event like that sometimes the personal element is lost in the chaos. Yes, a nation lost its leader and the world now faced an uncertain future. What is sometimes forgotten (or at least an afterthought) is that Jacqueline Kennedy also lost her husband. In spite of that, however, by all accounts she conducted herself with extreme grace and dignity. As Lyndon B. Johnson was preparing to be sworn in as President aboard Air Force One at Love Field in Dallas, it is said that he asked Mrs. Kennedy if she would stand by him as he took the Oath of Office. Thinking about everything she had been through in the past 90 minutes or so, and still wearing the dress stained with her husband's blood, her reported answer was quite interesting:

     "It's the least I could do."

     I find that amazing. In the midst of her suffering, she considered standing by the man taking over her husband's role "the least I could do." 

     When I think about that, I think about how we can sometimes feel like we are "owed" things because of what we've done or who we are. Sadly, that mentality can even creep into our lives as Christians. We come to church, give our offerings, fulfill our roles, and the temptation can come to feel that we somehow deserve something from God as a result of our "sacrifices." Our mindset can be, "God, You've seen what I have done for You and what I have given to You. Now here are my 'prayer requests' and I hope that You will see fit to answer them for me." Then in those times that things don't turn out as we hope, we may be tempted to feel as though God has let us down and forgotten all of those "sacrifices" that we made for Him. In thinking about this, however, I'm reminded of what Jesus said in Luke 17:7-10:

     "And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’”

     My point is simply this: Jesus Christ left the glory of Heaven, came to this earth in the form of man, and laid down His life that we might have ours. Through Christ's sacrifice on the cross we have hope of forgiveness of sins and eternal life with the Father. He pours out His Spirit on us to empower us, encourage us, and strengthen us. He gives us "joy unspeakable and full of glory" (1 Peter 1:8) and "peace that passes understanding" (Philippians 4:7) without measure. So you know all those things we do in service to Him - going to church, giving of our finances, telling others about His wonderful love, and even those times when we feel like we are "sacrificing" for Him? Let's do them all with joy. 

     After all, it's the least we could do.