I LOVE this account from our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan in Mark 14:3-9:
3 And while He was in Bethany, [a guest] in the house of Simon the leper, as He was reclining [at table], a woman came with an alabaster jar of ointment (perfume) of pure nard, very costly and precious; and she broke the jar and poured [the perfume] over His head. 4 But there were some who were moved with indignation and said to themselves, To what purpose was the ointment (perfume) thus wasted? 5 For it was possible to have sold this [perfume] for more than 300 denarii [a laboring man’s wages for a year] and to have given [the money] to the poor. And they censured and reproved her. 6 But Jesus said, Let her alone; why are you troubling her? She has done a good and beautiful thing to Me [praiseworthy and noble]. 7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you will not always have Me. 8 She has done what she could; she came beforehand to anoint My body for the burial. 9 And surely I tell you, wherever the good news (the Gospel) is proclaimed in the entire world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.
Notice the very 'religious' thinking of those referred to in the underlined portion. This woman came to JESUS with HER OWN JAR OF VERY PRECIOUS OINTMENT! She brought it to anoint JESUS! She gave no thought to the costliness of the ointment because HE was of far greater worth and value to her! SHE GOT IT! There was nothing that she owned that was of greater value than JESUS! Who had a problem with her wealth? Those who SELF-RIGHTEOUSLY attacked her! Now I want to direct your thinking to some in the ministry of JESUS CHRIST who have been SELF-RIGHTEOUSLY maligned by those who call themselves Christians simply because they have the outward appearance of wealth! You KNOW some of the names that are constantly being maligned! I want you to see, once and for all, that it is NONE OF OUR BUSINESS what another born again believer has or doesn't have! What was the response that JESUS gave to these? Verses 6-7:
6 But Jesus said, Let her alone; why are you troubling her? She has done a good and beautiful thing to Me [praiseworthy and noble]. 7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you will not always have Me.
JESUS said it all in this underlined statement! YOU always have an opportunity to give to the poor! YOU can give of what YOU have, any time you want to! And, just as important to note: NOT ONE OF US KNOWS WHAT THESE MINISTERS HAVE GIVEN! OR how much of their giving unto the LORD has resulted in untold blessings and rewards for good and faithful service! Why don't we know? Again, IT IS NONE OF OUR BUSINESS! So, the very next time that someone maligns another child of God or minister of the Gospel in your presence, shut them up with this! And warn them that 'touching God's Anointed' brings serious consequences, here, in this life (Psalm 105:15; 1 Chronicles 16:22)! AMEN! Instead, let's all be about our Father's business and the ministry of Reconciliation that HE has called every one of us to! Here is Hillsong with "Greatest Of These":
Shalom in Him!
