Mark 14:3-9
3While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.
6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
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Wow – Jesus says this story will be right up there with the gospel when preached around the world. That tells me this is a very significant event in Jesus’ eyes – and therefore, an important one for me as well.
S – is there a sin to confess? Perhaps letting a worldly perspective on money creep into my views of how people handle money in the kingdom of God. Something tells me that the heart of giving is the main thing – more than the giving itself and the effects of the giving. Am I guilty of looking at the ends more than the means as some of the critics did that day?
P – is there a promise to claim? Not really.
A – is there an attitude to change? Don’t judge what others do in their worship of God/Jesus. Who am I to know what pleasure God receives from someone’s sacrifice/offering to God?
C – is there a command to obey? “Leave her alone.” Let people do as they see fit to worship the Lord.
E – is there an example to follow? Follow the woman’s lead. She is giving Jesus her best. She is doing what she can to show her adoration and worship of Jesus.
P – is there a prayer to pray? Not in the passage.
E – is there an error to avoid? Don’t judge. Don’t stop people from giving what they want, how they want in worship to God.
T – is there a truth to believe? Not per se.
S – is there something to praise God for? Praise Him for always giving me something I can worship Him with. Just like the woman, I can do what I can to worship Him. He not only lets me, He wants me to give my best to Him. Thank You, Lord, for accepting what the world might see as foolish, but You see as worship.
God has given everyone things of great value in our eyes and yet they are more valuable when we give them back to God. God has given me things that give praise to Him directly. I’m not thinking of indirect worship (as in everything we do is a form of worship). I’m thinking of face-to-face acts of worship like this woman. Whether it’s our talents, our money, our time, or whatever, we can give it right back to Him in ways that are direct worship to Him. You know the world can look at the things we give back to God and think we are foolish. But God takes great pleasure when I choose to give my best to Him. I remember Rick Warren saying that when we do our quiet times, we should do them when we are at our best. That’s my prayer, that I might give my best to Him even as the world looks, even as my tempting heart questions if this is the best use of my resources. There is nothing more valuable to God than a heart that gives to Him sacrificially.