In Mark 14: 3-9, we see Jesus spending time with his disciples in the house of Simon the leper. A woman approaches Jesus and breaks a jar of perfume worth almost a year's wages to anoint Him with it. Some of the people there were upset and asked why the ointment was WASTED in such a way.
Jesus reprimanded them and told them to leave the woman alone; He told them she has done a beautiful thing and wherever the gospel is preached what she has done will be told.
Why is what she did important enough to be taught with the Gospel? In order to answer that questions, we need to understand what the word "waste" means. According to Webster's Dictionary 1828, waste means "To expend without necessity or use; to suffer to be lost unnecessarily; to throw away."
These men, even disciples, were claiming that this woman's anointing of Jesus with oil was a waste. That means that Jesus was not worth what the woman did. That means Jesus was not valuable enough for the nard worth 11 months' wages.
However, the woman understood the priceless value of Jesus. It was not waste to her, and Jesus knew this. Our sins being forgiven is priceless. Do we understand what it means to have been purchased with a price we could never repay?
Whatever we offer to Jesus is not a waste. Throwing out idols and burning them instead of selling them is not a waste. Spending time with Jesus even in the midst of storms and business agendas that need to be finished is not a waste.
Are you willing to never achieve what you've worked hard for? Are you willing to give your time to Jesus, your costly items to Jesus? Are you willing to give your whole heart to Jesus? If Jesus told you that He doesnt want you to do anything but sit in His presence, would you be okay with that? Would you be willing to be "wasted" for Jesus' sake?
Your time is not your own. Your money is not your own. Your life is not your own. We must be willing to pour everything out as an offering to our Lord, Jesus. Know that whatever He is calling you to do, whether it makes sense to you or not, it is not a waste. Understand the unfathomable price of our Lord. He is worthy and deserving of everything: all our time, talents, and treasures. Be willing to be "wasted" by Him, for Him.
-Brother Jonathan Dodge
