wasted

The story of the woman who poured perfume on Jesus’ feet seemed to me this morning to resonate with my church experience.

Here’s the part I’m thinking of, from Matthew 26:6-9: “While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
“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.’”

“Why are we wasting money on that?” That’s an argument often used when the church isn’t spending money on our thing, or when the deacons ask us for more money because funds are getting tight. “We used to meet at the Christian School instead of church. We used to have volunteers mow the lawn. That’s not really a ministry. He already gets money from the denomination.” These are all arguments I’ve heard from people in my church.

Another good one: “Why are we doing a service project for her?” Reasons not to help include these: She gets money from the state. Her family could help her but aren’t. She’s not in church very often, or she doesn’t attend our church. She doesn’t really need it.

The fact is, it’s easy for us all to question the motives of other people. Additionally, when we get right down to it, none of us deserves the good things other people do for us. This simple story reminds us that Jesus is less interested in what we do than why we do it.

If we spend money out of gratitude, with a desire to spread God’s message of grace, then we won’t be wrong. If we serve because God calls us to be his hands and feet in the world, and to bless others less fortunate, then we won’t waste our efforts.

God sees our generosity and our grudging, grumbling negativity. Thankfully, he forgives the latter just as he blesses the former.