The society teaches us how to dodge with things in a way to always find a getaway, an excuse or accuse others, which most of the time draws our attention away from the most important things or the good deeds we can do towards the Lord. Unfortunately, we bring too many worldly practices into the Body of Christ. My brother, my sister, today, let’s examine our own behaviour in the light of the Word, for we shall see what happened, even with the disciples who walked with Jesus, when their eyes were not turned on the Master.
“6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. 8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. 9 “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.” 10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 The poor you will always have with you,[a] but you will not always have me. 12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”” (Matthew 26:6-13).
This passage comes when Jesus is preparing His disciples for the most important part of His mission on earth: His death and resurrection. AAnd it is amazing to notice where everyone’s focus is. This passage tells us of a woman, Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, the one who “sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said” (Luke 10:39). As we can see, she has certainly not lost her focus on Jesus. Because she knew who He was, she could not offer Him cheap things. My friend, if you spent time at Jesus’ feet like Mary did and that you acknowledged His worth with all your soul and your spirit, you would certainly ensure you give Him the most expensive part of your time, the most expensive part of your belongings, the most expensive part of yourself… like Mary who poured a very expensive perfume on Jesus. The sadness of this situation is the following: “When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. ‘Why this waste?’ they asked. ‘This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor”‘ (Matthew?. 26:8-9). Yes, it is sad, because we often do exactly like them. Jesus’ disciples were indignant! Did the disciples not know the value of the Lord? Why were they indignant? Had they not seen Jesus do many miracles, enough to give the poor money, food, shelter, healing, etc… The answer seems obvious: their eyes were focused on the things of the world, and not on the Lord at that time!
Jesus said about this woman: “she has done a beautiful thing to me” (verse 10). Why? Not because the perfume was very expensive, but because she had put the Lord first before the values, the things and the needs of the world. Yes, when your eyes are set on Jesus despite the values, the things and the needs of the world, then you will be able to give priority to the things that Jesus sees as good deeds, the things He is pleased with. My friend, your reward comes from the Lord, but the Lord expects excellence, the best, the most expensive from you. Let’s think about this and stop presenting Him meaningless offerings of our time, our belongings or ourselves, because very often, since we do not put Him first, the things we do for Him become insignificant. Stay blessed in Jesus’ name.