Extravagant Love

Mark 14:3-9

3And 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. 4But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? 5For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply.
6But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. 7For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. 8She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. 9Assuredly, 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.”

While she was pouring out her extravagant, costly love on Jesus’ feet, Mary received criticism. “This fragrant oil was wasted.” “She should have sold it and given it to the poor.” These sharp words were spoken by Judas; but Mark adds the detail that “they” criticized her sharply, which indicates that others around the table, potentially even other disciples, also thought ill of her action. But Mary did not care what they thought–believers or unbelievers. She knew she was pleasing her Lord by pouring out her love on Him.

Sometimes Jesus calls us to do what may be “unpopular” or “unacceptable,” even among Christian circles. Professing believers may lift their chins and criticize us.

“How could he talk about hell? No one is going to come to Christ that way.” But “he” knows that Jesus spoke about hell, and that speaking the sometimes-hard truth, in love, is the only way to gain true converts. So “he” seeks to follow and obey Jesus alone, only caring what HE thinks. And HE is well pleased.

“Why is he preaching against abortion? These types of issues are too ‘politicized’ and divisive these days. Christians must stay out of all that. Doesn’t he know that converting the unsaved is more important?” But “he” knows that Christ calls us to stand against injustice and to speak out for the voiceless. (Isaiah 1:17, Proverbs 31:8-9) “He” knows that preaching the gospel to the unsaved alone without discipling and exhorting both new believers and the faithful in Christ is pretty much useless, for it will result in too many shallow professions of belief that shortly wither away. “He” knows that merely professing belief without living it out in both deed and action results in a dead faith. (James 2:20, 26) And “he” knows that biblical figures such as Elijah and John the Baptist, even Jesus Himself, spoke out against evil and immorality. The criticism does not bother “him” because “he” knows that what “he” is doing is right in Jesus’ eyes. So “he” seeks to follow and obey Jesus alone, only caring what HE thinks. And HE is well pleased.

“Why should they be spending money on _____ when there are homeless people who need assistance and heathens who need to hear the gospel?” Yet, “they” spend their money in whatever way God calls them to. “They” do not care what others think, as long as they know they are obeying God’s will and purpose as revealed in Scripture for their lives/ministries. So “they” seek to follow and obey Jesus alone, only caring what HE thinks. And HE is well pleased.

It does not matter what people say. What matters is that we seek GOD and HIS WILL for our personal situations. Do not listen to other people’s criticism! Go to your Savior. Listen to Him alone!

Obey Him in WHATEVER He calls you to do. You can find His standards clearly laid out in His Word. It does not matter what anyone else thinks, says, or does. Pour out your love extravagantly and abundantly on HIM, no matter the cost. Follow HIM without doubt, without reservation.

What will it matter on the last day, what others thought, said, or even did to us? When we see our Savior face-to-face, it will only matter what HE thought of our actions. And if we disobeyed Him–if we kept silent when He asked us to speak, and if we did not act when He asked us to act, or rather, acted in the manner He despises, there will be sorrow and loss of rewards.

And, on the other hand, let us not be quick to judge fellow believers (unless, of course, the matter involves a direct violation of the Word of God). But let us rather seek His will for our own lives!

Our Savior has poured out His EVERYTHING for us. How can we not do the same for Him? Let us pour our whole lives at His feet, a costly, living sacrifice for Him, ready to obey Him in all things, whatever He says, for His glory. Let us love Him far more than anything on earth.

Acts 5:29 (NKJV)
But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.