Extravagant Offerings

But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me."

Mark 14: 6-7

     After pouring an extremely expensive jar of perfume over Jesus, Mary was rebuked by Judas. Coming to her defense, Jesus acknowledged Mary's extravagant (and seemingly wasteful) offering as a beautiful thing. Which got me thinking... how often do I hold back my best from the Lord? Do I rebuke myself and others for "wasting" my time, money, efforts, and talents on the Lord? Am I still striving for the Lord's affection with all my own efforts to serve him rather than be with him?
   This passage struck me a few weeks back, and it hasn't left me since. All too often I find myself wondering, "Am I doing enough?"  I see all the need around me and find myself straying down the guilt-ridden path of lies: you're wasting your time with that book--there are people to serve, you've spent long enough praying--you need to go do something, you're missing opportunities right now, people need you, Kelsey... While there is some truth to these thoughts--I often find I can get off balance--and not in the right direction.  By pouring a year's worth of wages over Jesus, I'm sure Mary seemed "off-balance."  But that's not how Jesus saw it. In his eyes Mary did a "beautiful thing."
     I want to be like Mary.  I want to be rebuked for spending too much time with my Lord that he may be the one that comes to my defense.  That I may be written about in his book.  I want the courage to give extravagant offerings to my Lord, even when that makes me seem crazy to the world.
     I have a long way to go to be like Mary.  I find myself striving for the Lord's affections rather than resting in his love.  I find myself trying to prove my significance through my missions, giving, and other human efforts rather than letting my significance be found in the righteousness Jesus has already earned for me.  But, as Jesus reminds us, we will always have the poor.  Yes, I want to serve and give and live a life devoted to loving others.  But, more so than that, I want to radically love my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who loves the poor far better than I ever will be able to, anyway.  He has, after all, loved me--a poor sinner--and has turned my poverty into an abundant inheritance that will never fade.