I think back to ministries I have either run or been a part of. Each one was dedicated to Jesus. Some of them, by man’s standard, were a roaring success. Others looked like a waste of time and there was no shortage of people who were very happy to point this out to us.
I think of missionaries who obeyed the call of God and went to hard places, sometimes with little visible fruit. Then there are the stories of those who died on the way. William Borden (1887–1913) was one. He was heading to China to work with a people group which he felt burdened for. He stopped in Egypt for the purpose of learning the language of the people he would minister to. While there he caught Spinal Meningitis and died shortly after, never making it to the mission field. Some of his friends believed that William had thrown his life away to become a missionary. He had been born into great wealth and opportunities to grow his fortune were offered many times to him. He chose to follow God’s call for his life and died young. Was this a waste?
In Matthew 26:6-13, we meet a woman who anointed Jesus with expensive perfume. The commentaries agree that this was Mary, the sister of Lazarus. She was incredibly thankful for the life of her brother who Christ called from the dead after 3 days in the tomb. She had sat at the feet of Christ multiple times, learning about the kingdom of God. She wanted to give Jesus a gift which she was confident He was worthy of. She would not consider even for a moment that “only a dab will do”. NO. This gift would be extravagant because Jesus was and is worth it. According to Jesus, this was not a waste. Some of the disciples felt differently.
Here is Jesus’ point of view on this story. “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.’ Aware of this, Jesus said to them, ‘Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you.’” Matthew 26:8-10
Upon reflecting on this passage and the idea that what is given to Jesus is not a waste, here are a few thoughts I had.
1. Deep gratitude prompts an extravagant response.
2. There will always be voices of the dissenters and the discouragers; those who do not understand or appreciate what you have given to God.
3. Learn from Mary; do not listen to the naysayers. Rather, be generous to God as you give and as You live to serve Him.
God honors what is given to Him. He does not waste a gift even if, from where we stand, it looks like a failure. We don’t have the eyes of heaven, nor do we see the whole story start to finish. God sees what we do not. Nothing given to God is wasted.
Dear Father,
Thank You for taking what I have given to You. My life, the ministries and small acts of kindness done in Your Name. Thank You for receiving all of these gifts, big or small, given to You. Thank You that they are all precious in Your sight.
In Jesus Name,
Amen