Impractical Pragmatism
“And 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. But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply. Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. Assuredly, 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.” Mark 14:3-11
In our modern times, pragmatism is a valued virtue. And as we read this event in Jesus’ life, I can identify with the ones who were indignant at the sheer waste of a precious resource. A woman had abruptly interrupted a private dinner party where Jesus was present, and seemingly oblivious to her surroundings, breaks a flask of costly perfume and pours it on Jesus’ head. The disciples see this as an action of rash emotions. They see this as impractical. I am sure a symbolic display of simply a drop of that fragrant oil was enough for showing devotion. Why this impulsive waste? If the point was to show devotion, then the practical thing to do would be to sell this oil, and use the money to feed the poor. Those who were indignant were simply practicing pragmatic economics and principled stewardship. But Jesus’ response is the real shocker in the story. He rebukes them and tells them to leave her alone.
Of all the hearts in the history of the world I no of none other that beat for the poor like the heart of Jesus. Jesus was always for the cause of the poor. He had told his disciples to invite those who cannot pay back that compliment. His ministry was first a ministry to the poor. “Blessed are the poor..” is the first words of the first sermon we hear from Him. Yet, Jesus seems to say that this impractical display at the expense of a great cause was acceptable, no, actually good in His sight. “She has done a good work for Me.”
There is an important principle in the words of Jesus that we in the modern day need to hear the most. The person of Christ always precedes the cause of Christ. Devotion precedes action! Reverence precedes results! Worship precedes work! All that we do for God must simply be an overflow of our worship. Our work is simply a love song expressed by a lover to his loved one. It is incidental. If we think only what is pragmatic we will develop a tunnel vision. When Jesus says, “the poor you will have with you always, but Me you do not have always” that is exactly the point. A short term view of the matter makes the action of the woman look very impractical, but when you think of the magnificence, the exclusivity and the limitedness of the opportunity presented in worshipping the incarnate Christ at that moment as He stood at the threshold of the greatest sacrifice for the sake of humanity, including those poor, then the only thing practical thing to do would be to break not one, but every alabaster jar of fragrant perfume to worship Him.
I think we live in a culture where everything is measured in terms of utility. Efficiency, effectiveness, and results are the measurements of success. Jesus came to make us good worshippers, not simply good investors. May we never in our zealousness for the cause of our Master, blur the very Person.
Danesh Manik
______________________________________________________________
"A Soul’s Anchor” is a daily inspirational message prepared to challenge your mind, inspire your heart, and motivate you to anchor your soul in the person of Jesus Christ.
If you know a friend who would enjoy receiving "A Soul’s Anchor" in their email box each day, tell them they can sign up by emailing us at subscribe@asoulsanchor.org . The messages may also be read at our website, http://www.asoulsanchor.org. To unsubscribe, please email, unsubscribe@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. To change to a weekly instead of a daily subscription, email weekly@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. For receiving messages by mail, please write to us at A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864
Copyright Notice:
All Rights Reserved. You may re-transmit by electronic mail, or make individual copy of this message provided the use is not for profit or commercial purpose, and the following credit line appears in its entirety at the conclusion of the forward or reprint.
Copyright(c) 200, India International Church
A Soul’s Anchor is the ministry of the India International church. India International Church may withdraw or modify this grant of permission at any time. "A Soul’s Anchor" may NOT be reproduced in any form on the World Wide Web or in print media or other media without express written permission. Please submit requests via email to indiachurch@jesusforindians.org or write to:
A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864
In our modern times, pragmatism is a valued virtue. And as we read this event in Jesus’ life, I can identify with the ones who were indignant at the sheer waste of a precious resource. A woman had abruptly interrupted a private dinner party where Jesus was present, and seemingly oblivious to her surroundings, breaks a flask of costly perfume and pours it on Jesus’ head. The disciples see this as an action of rash emotions. They see this as impractical. I am sure a symbolic display of simply a drop of that fragrant oil was enough for showing devotion. Why this impulsive waste? If the point was to show devotion, then the practical thing to do would be to sell this oil, and use the money to feed the poor. Those who were indignant were simply practicing pragmatic economics and principled stewardship. But Jesus’ response is the real shocker in the story. He rebukes them and tells them to leave her alone.
Of all the hearts in the history of the world I no of none other that beat for the poor like the heart of Jesus. Jesus was always for the cause of the poor. He had told his disciples to invite those who cannot pay back that compliment. His ministry was first a ministry to the poor. “Blessed are the poor..” is the first words of the first sermon we hear from Him. Yet, Jesus seems to say that this impractical display at the expense of a great cause was acceptable, no, actually good in His sight. “She has done a good work for Me.”
There is an important principle in the words of Jesus that we in the modern day need to hear the most. The person of Christ always precedes the cause of Christ. Devotion precedes action! Reverence precedes results! Worship precedes work! All that we do for God must simply be an overflow of our worship. Our work is simply a love song expressed by a lover to his loved one. It is incidental. If we think only what is pragmatic we will develop a tunnel vision. When Jesus says, “the poor you will have with you always, but Me you do not have always” that is exactly the point. A short term view of the matter makes the action of the woman look very impractical, but when you think of the magnificence, the exclusivity and the limitedness of the opportunity presented in worshipping the incarnate Christ at that moment as He stood at the threshold of the greatest sacrifice for the sake of humanity, including those poor, then the only thing practical thing to do would be to break not one, but every alabaster jar of fragrant perfume to worship Him.
I think we live in a culture where everything is measured in terms of utility. Efficiency, effectiveness, and results are the measurements of success. Jesus came to make us good worshippers, not simply good investors. May we never in our zealousness for the cause of our Master, blur the very Person.
Danesh Manik
______________________________________________________________
"A Soul’s Anchor” is a daily inspirational message prepared to challenge your mind, inspire your heart, and motivate you to anchor your soul in the person of Jesus Christ.
If you know a friend who would enjoy receiving "A Soul’s Anchor" in their email box each day, tell them they can sign up by emailing us at subscribe@asoulsanchor.org . The messages may also be read at our website, http://www.asoulsanchor.org. To unsubscribe, please email, unsubscribe@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. To change to a weekly instead of a daily subscription, email weekly@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. For receiving messages by mail, please write to us at A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864
Copyright Notice:
All Rights Reserved. You may re-transmit by electronic mail, or make individual copy of this message provided the use is not for profit or commercial purpose, and the following credit line appears in its entirety at the conclusion of the forward or reprint.
Copyright(c) 200, India International Church
A Soul’s Anchor is the ministry of the India International church. India International Church may withdraw or modify this grant of permission at any time. "A Soul’s Anchor" may NOT be reproduced in any form on the World Wide Web or in print media or other media without express written permission. Please submit requests via email to indiachurch@jesusforindians.org or write to:
A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864
posted by Danesh Manik | 11:39 AM
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