He is Worthy of it All!

John 12:1-8 ESV

[1] Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. [2] So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. [3] Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. [4] But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, [5] “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” [6] He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. [7] Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. [8] For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

Mary understood what was worth investing in. She anointed the feet of Jesus with costly perfume. She could have sold the perfume and used the money for pleasure and self indulgence. She could have even used the money for good deeds, such as blessing the poor. However, she understood that Jesus and his purposes were worth far greater. 

Looking at ourselves, have we truly understood what is worth investing in? God has given us life, time, strength, talents, connections, money, and resources. How are we utilizing and investing those things? If we are using them to serve God, are we holding anything back? Or have we fully committed those things to Jesus and for his purposes? 

When we understand the value of Jesus Christ, it's easy to give. When we understand the value of Jesus Christ, we can agree with Paul in saying, “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ” (Phil. 3:8).  

At the end our lives, we won't be able to take our money with us to the grave. At the end of our lives, our accolades, positions, and the praises we've received from men will not matter. The only thing that will matter is the life we have lived for God. The only investment that will matter is how we have invested ourselves for the sake of God and his kingdom! 

Thus, there is an urgency for us in how we live our lives. Paul writes in Ephesians 5:15-17, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” 

Lord, would you cause us to understand your will and help us to make the costly investment! Help us not to care what others think, but be so caught up in your greatness that we cannot help but lay it all at your feet! All praise, all honor, all glory be to God forever in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth! Amen and amen!