*To what purpose is this waste?*
`“And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?”Mark 14:3–5`
A woman brought a very precious and expensive ointment and poured it on Jesus. John 12:5 tells us it was worth a year’s wages in those days. Can you imagine giving your entire year’s salary to the Lord? That’s what Mary did. The disciples were upset with her and said among themselves, `“…To what purpose is this waste?”` (Matthew 26:8). What is waste?
If something can be done with 1 Rupee and you spend 10,000 rupees, it’s deemed a waste. If a task can be completed effectively in two days and you devote five or seven, that too is called waste. In essence, waste is when something seemingly excessive is given in exchange for something viewed as insufficient or unworthy. _“The perfume is so expensive, why not sell it and give the money to the poor?”_ they asked (John 12:4–6). _“Why pour it out on Jesus?”_
Have you given so much of your life, time, and resources to the work of God, and now you’re wondering if it was a waste? Do you hold a degree? Or perhaps you have a stable job somewhere. Have you ever felt like serving in full-time ministry would be a waste?
To the woman with the alabaster box, the Lord meant more than a year’s wages. Does He mean more to you than the life you are pouring out for Him or do you feel like you’re wasting your life?Jesus did not think what Mary did was a waste. On the contrary, He considered it an honourable and deeply meaningful act. In fact, He immortalized her deed: _“Verily I say unto you, wherever this Gospel is preached throughout the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”_(Mark 14:9). How powerful is this? The Lord chose that the story of Mary giving her best to Him would accompany the story of His own sacrifice. He deliberately linked her act with His memory. Why? Because He wants that the preaching of the Gospel must result in acts just like hers— people giving themselves and their best to Him. Hallelujah 🙌
Your brother in Christ,
Apostle Ashok Martin