Why This Waste?

Unforgettable Questions: An Easter Series

No. 1 Why This Waste?

I am writing a new book on leadership, Not As Man Sees. In one section, I talk about getting past people’s ridicule and misunderstandings that often accompany the decision to follow Jesus and adhere to his word. Man sees waste, but the Lord sees devotion and worship.

One of the questions asked, and there are many, in the days leading up to the death and resurrection of Jesus, is, why this waste? A woman came to Jesus, broke open a jar of expensive oil, and anointed him with an offering of oil and tears. The disciples sitting around, watching this happen, were indignant. Indignant! That’s a pretty strong word. Why this waste? We could sell the oil and feed the poor.

This woman isn’t the only person misunderstood for their worship. David was mocked by his wife because of his extravagant worship as the presence of the Lord returned to Jerusalem. What I love about these two examples is that neither one seemed to care. David responded with, I’ll become even more undignified than this. And the woman said nothing because Jesus was right there in her defense, Leave her alone. They are in the company of others who push past man’s glaring eye. For instance, Noah, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Daniel, the woman with the issue of blood, and, perhaps, even the disciples who left everything behind to follow Jesus.

From a different perspective, what about the widow and Elijah? It must have seemed like such a waste to use her last drops of oil and grain to feed Elijah instead of her son. But the exchange she made that day with her oil “bought” her more oil. It was life-changing, life-giving, actually. It was extravagant.

When I read about these lives, I am stirred to worship more and to go deeper in devotion to God. It makes me hungry for the word and more in love with Jesus. It surfaces a whole new set of questions for me. What is in my possession that I can waste on God? Am I holding back worship (acts of surrender) because I know others will not understand? Why am I holding on to fading treasures? Are my eyes on Jesus or others?

Back to the woman’s offering. Selling perfume and giving the money to the poor is a good idea. There is a place for selling our possessions for ministry. But the thing about ridicule, and I’m the first to admit being guilty, is that we miss the point. The ‘I’m so captured by this man, Jesus, that I want to pour my earthly treasure on him because he is my treasure now, he is my portion’ point. The ‘in an extravagant act of love, Jesus was broken and poured out for us’ point.

Why this waste?

Because. Jesus is worthy, and there is no one like him. Because. He is the name above every other name and is the great reward. Because. He is faithful and true, and he is everlasting to everlasting. Because. One day with him is better than a thousand elsewhere, and he finishes what he starts. Because. I’ve tasted and seen that he is good. Because he wasted his life on me and on you so we could be together forever. When I think about those things, I have to give him my life.

Next Post in this series on Sunday, March 26