Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat [at meat]. But when his disciples saw [it], they had indignation, saying, To what purpose [is] this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. When Jesus understood [it], he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. ... Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, [there] shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her. Matthew 26:6-10, 13
Around Wednesday of Holy Week, Jesus is anointed! As the alabaster box is broken and the oil runs down, the cost, the sacrifice, the future... was not counted by this woman. Her heart surrendered it all for Jesus. Her concern was not for what others thought or what they may say. Rather, she just kept her eyes on Jesus and lovingly without reservation poured out all she had.
She could have chosen to pour only part of the spikenard, for that would have been sufficient enough for anointing, but she deliberately pours it all out, holding nothing back for herself. As I think about this woman and what she gave, I’m challenged would I have done the same?
We must ask ourselves do we truly give our all to the one who paid it all for us? Or maybe we hold a little back just in case!
With all that is going on around us, it can become easy to justify not giving our all. We may choose to stay home rather than attend church, we may give only what is required because the economy these days doesn’t look promising. really living surrendered?
So, I ask are we really living surrendered? Do we live, give, and serve not counting the cost?
Are we really trusting God or are we trusting ourselves? Do we give the Lord all of our attention when we sit in church? Are we half in and half out waiting on the last amen? Do we give when things are a little tight and we’re not sure how next week will go? These are all things that we justify.
God wants all of us. God wants us to trust Him with every aspect of our lives. As the woman poured everything out to praise Jesus, holding nothing back...
Will we do the same?
Our Saviour never asked for part of us. He declares that He wants all of us: good, bad, ugly, beautiful, small, and big. Jesus is the only one who takes all of the dirt and darkness and exchanges them for purification and light. Everything we surrender to Him; He is more than able to give back. As a matter of fact, He will give us back in great abundance what we actually need.
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. - Luke 6:38
Nothing that is surrendered to God for His glory is wasted. Every song we sing, every prayer we speak, every heartbreak we turn over, and every part of ourselves that we surrender, God uses for His glory.
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