Why This Waste?

Picture the scene with me: a crowded dining room, filled with eager guests. Martha bustles about in her element, serving platters of fruit, bread, and fish. Jesus sits at the place of honor, his friend Lazarus close by. Suddenly, the happy hubbub of voices stills. Silence hushes the room as a woman quietly glides towards Jesus. She sinks to her knees, her robes rippling around her, and lifts a costly jar of perfume. She breaks the seal. The musky, rich scent of the spikenard spreads through the room as she pours it over Jesus’ feet.

Then, with a swift movement, she removes her veil and loosens her long hair. Bowing low over Jesus’ feet, she gently wipes them with her hair. A collective gasp ripples over the guests.

Then Judas’ voice cuts through the silence. “Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?” he asks disdainfully.

Another guest joins in, “Why was this waste of the ointment made?”

Jesus looks up and around at the waiting faces. “Let her alone,” He replies. “She hath done what she could. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.”

You can read this story in Mark 14:3-9 and John 12:1-8.

“Why this waste?”

The question echoes down through centuries of believers, often asked by a watching world that cannot understand why we would spend our lives serving an invisible Savior. Why do believers give our energy, time, money, and talents to Jesus Christ? Why do some leave behind everything they’ve ever known to travel around the world so others can hear the gospel? Why did Christians all throughout history, and some still today, lay down their physical lives rather than deny Christ?

And let’s be honest. Sometimes, we as followers of Christ may ask this question too, though we frame it a little differently. When sacrifice or suffering comes, our human instinct can be to ask, “Is it really worth it to follow Jesus?” When we make decisions about our futures, the question can arise, “Should I choose the path of least resistance or give my life for the Lord?”

Your Sacrifice for Christ is Never Wasted.

Yet, what the world regards as a waste, Christ sees as precious and valuable. He never wastes anything that we sacrifice, give, or deny for Him. His value system is far different than ours, and as we fix our eyes on eternity, we will see ours begin to align with His.

What we see as loss, He sees as gain. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Romans 8:18).

On Paul’s testimony (and if ever anyone sacrificed all for Christ, it was he!), But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ…That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, being made conformable unto his death (Philippians 3:7-9).

Jesus laid down a powerful principle in John 12:24-26, Verily, verily I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone, but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me: and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

If we would live a fruitful Christian life, we must be willing to die to ourselves. And though the world (and sometimes other Christians) will call it a waste, we must keep our eyes steadfastly on the Lord Jesus and His example. Our eternal and abundant life came through His death!

I believe that verse 25 does not refer only to physical death of martyrdom, though we can apply it that way. He will most likely not ask us to give our literal lives for the gospel. But certainly, we can love the life we want and choose for ourselves or we can surrender our own plans, dreams and desires to the Lord, allowing Him to do with our lives as He sees fit.

And strangely enough? That second path, the path of seeming loss, is the one that will bring forth eternal fruit, reward, and blessing!

I know that (especially when I was younger) I dealt with much fear related to surrendering to the Lord. I was terrified of what He might allow me to go through or ask me to do. But the Lord is so very gracious. He did not ask me to go live in a mud hut or give a testimony on a stage in front of 5,000 people (equally terrifying lol?!). Rather, it has been smaller things, one step of faith at a time. And every single time, He has proven Himself faithful. I have lost nothing by putting Him first, that He has not abundantly made up for in Himself (and sometimes in tangible ways).

Yes, He does ask believers to make “big” sacrifices, and I believe we should be willing for that insomuch as we are able in His strength. But are we willing to lay down our lives day-to-day as well?

To pause and minister to someone else when we feel tired or sad? To give up some time in our weekend to get the gospel out? To choose worship at church over a sports event, overtime, or a sleep-in morning? To give money for missions when finances are tight? To risk feeling embarrassed as we try to use a talent for the Lord? To love the brethren even when it’s difficult?

The world and our flesh cry out, “It’s a waste!” Yet Christ sees it and is pleased.

And it does not have to be something “big” in our eyes. The Lord sees and knows all that we pour out for Him. He knows what your “two mites” may have cost you, that perhaps you secretly wonder if you wasted. He sees the loving heart willing to give up all for Him, and that is a far greater treasure to Him than all this world’s wealth could ever be.

And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

To close, one last bit of perspective.

What We Call Sacrifice is a Heavenly Privilege.

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds (Hebrews 12:3).

Christ left the glory of heaven—for me. Suffered the most painful and humiliating death—for me. Faced the wrath of God so I need not. He did this for you, too. When we consider the depths of His love toward us, how can we really consider anything we give as a sacrifice?

In light of the eternal weight of glory, how can the sufferings of this present time compare? I know, it is so hard for our finite minds to grasp, and the Lord understands that. He acknowledges our “sacrifices” and values them greatly! Most incredible of all, He will reward them! Yet, I would challenge us to change our mindset from “Oh, I’ve given up so much for Christ” to “What a privilege to serve such a gracious Savior! What an honor to know such a good and loving Father!”

Serving Jesus is the best thing ever. Living for Him is not always easy, but it is oh-so worth it. He considered us worth the cross; may we consider Him worth our far lesser crosses.

I never made a sacrifice. Of this we ought not to talk when we remember the great sacrifice which He made who left His Father’s throne on high to give Himself for us.

David Livingstone

Finally, dear friend, let me leave you with this question. What is the “precious ointment” that you hesitate to pour out for Christ? What is the sacrifice you offer that others scorn or mock as a waste? Don’t be afraid. The Lord Jesus is worth it all. Eternity alone will reveal what God will do with the lives of those who, by faith, share His value system. You may fear it is all a waste; you may hear the voices that tell you it’s so—but let us hear the voice of Christ. “She hath done what she could.” Let us do what we can, trusting the results with the Lord. Let us pour out all we are and have at the feet of Jesus. Rest assured, there is no waste with Him.