God is worthy of it all
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God is worthy of it all
God is worthy of it all
Mark 14
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. But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply.
But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. 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.”
Background to story
• “very costly” in Greek πολυτελής (polytelous), which means “highly priced; extremely valuable”.
Example of world’s most expensive perfume - DKNY Golden Delicious Million Dollar Fragrance Bottle – $1 million
• The only use of the perfume was to refresh the guest. E.g. receiving a hot towel when you enter a restaurant or an aircraft.
• Such was the form in which Mary’s love to Christ, at so much cost to herself, poured itself out.
•Such was the form in which Mary’s love to Christ, at so much cost to herself, poured itself out.
Observation Point #1.
When we serve God, we give of our best because God is worthy of it all.
• Mary could have used perfume of lower grades. But because God is worthy of it all, she gave her best perfume.
•“they criticized sharply” in Greek ἐνεβριμῶντο (embrimonto), which means “to insist sternly; scold; feel strongly”
Observation Point #2.
When we serve God, we give of our best despite what others may say.
Sometimes when we serve God, people’s responses can discourage us (unintentionally).
These people can be our loved ones, Pastors/Church staff, ministry members etc.
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.”
• Note Jesus’ response to Mary’s act of worship and sacrifice. Do you think Mary was thinking of that when she decided to pour out her precious bottle of perfume?
Observation Point #3.
When we serve God, we give of our best because it goes to be part of God’s eternal purpose.
Nothing that we do in the Kingdom of God is ever wasted! God uses everything that we do for His Kingdom’s purpose!
Summary
i.When we serve God, we give of our best because God is worthy of it all.
ii.When we serve God, we give of our best despite what others may say.
ii.When we serve God, we give of our best despite what others may say.
iii.When w serve God, we give of our best because it goes to be part of God’s eternal purpose.
iii.When w serve God, we give of our best because it goes to be part of God’s eternal purpose.