Waste or Worship
Mark 14:3–9
3 And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head.
4 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, "Why was this fragrant oil wasted?
5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor." And they criticized her sharply.
6 But Jesus said, "Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me.
7 For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always.
8 She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial.
9 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her."
While Jesus was seated at the table, Mary came with an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Some say it was worth a year’s wages. Her gift was precious and revealed her devotion. Her actions were prophetic and proclaimed His purpose. He was the One that would be broken. He was the One who would be poured out as an offering for all.
Her act of abandonment and adoration aroused a curt response. The disciples were indignant and criticised the waste. They knew the value of the ointment, but not the worth of the Lord. They placed value on the poor, but not on Him. What they counted as waste, He valued as worship.
The criticism of Mary was met by the reprimand of the Lord. She had done what she could. The desire to bless the poor was noble but their awareness of the moment was lacking. One lone woman discerned the poignancy of the hour, and poured forth an offering of love. It was a good work that will be forever shared in memory of her devotion.
Mary had previously sat at His feet and listened to His words (Luke 10:39). She received His love and perceived a heart that everyone missed. She sensed the sorrow that accompanied His steps and glimpsed the destiny He came to fulfil. Later, others would come with spices in hand, but they would be too late. Only one who was willing to waste what she had in worship, was able to anoint Him for His journey to the cross. While others argued over who was the greatest, jostled for position, or plotted to have him destroyed, she simply knelt and adored the One who would give His all.
Mary did not consider who was watching. She did not do it for them. The size of the audience, the applause of the crowd was not her focus. She did not look to be remembered or celebrated. She looked only to express her love. Others may watch, some may criticise and even condemn, but their opinions did not count. Her eyes were fixed on only One. For Him she came. For Him she poured out her offering. Everything else was secondary. The reward of notoriety did not move her. The promise of being spoken of and known was not clung to. She had already chosen the centre of her worship and world. Her devotion would not be moved by either criticism or praise.
Worship has a focus. It is centred on His heart, not our reputation or fame. Whether we are known is in His hands. Whether we are willing to break open what we hold, and pour out our lives in worship, is our choice. None can demand what we alone can give. We hold our own alabaster box of time, gifting, and passion. We can save it for another day; put it aside for our needs, give it to the poor, or allow it to simply sit and gather dust. It is ours to hold and ours to give. Few may notice. Some may criticise our choice as a waste. Some may even condemn our supposed lack of care. What some call waste, our Lord calls worship. He receives our offering and values the perfume of our devotion. The One who is worshipped and the one who brought such a costly gift, savour a oneness that few experience. What pours forth as love leaves a perfume that changes atmospheres and lingers on those it touches. The one who rises from worship carries the scent of the One who was worshipped.
The words we write, the songs we sing, the prayers we pour out – waste or worship? Others hold their opinions, but we decide the value of what we hold. To define time and events by the priorities of man is to live below the call of God. Judge rather by the values of heaven and the affections of the heart. What we do for Him will never be lost in the obscurity of time. Lives come and go; deeds are quickly forgotten, but the fragrance of a life lived for Him lingers within the chronicles of heaven.
Consider:
What value do you place on your time with the Lord? Is it something that occurs amid the many things of life or is it the focus of your attention and your delight?
Do you struggle with the thought that nobody will read what you write, hear what you compose, or see what you create? It can feel like a waste to invest time and energy into something that no one else sees. Yet there is One who always sees and values what we pour out as an expression of love, and an act of devotion.
The hours you pray, the thoughts you journal, the time spent reading the Word - are they criticised by others? Remember, what some call waste, God calls worship.
Have you been criticised over an expression of worship? Often devotion can look awkward, messy, and unrestrained, but a broken box and spilled perfume carries a beauty that transcends time. Let Jesus be your defence. He sees the heart and receives the gift of those who come to worship.
