Wasted Worship?

In Mark 14 we have an incredible event chronicled for us. Let’s read it together: 3 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. 4 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? 5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply. 6 But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. 7 For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. 8 She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. 9 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.”

This woman gave to Jesus an incredible act of worship. This act was one of sacrifice. She sacrificed financially and she sacrificed by being so vulnerable. And what was the reaction of those around? They were indignant and said the oil was “wasted”. Can worship ever be wasted? I don’t think so; not if it is genuine worship. Have you ever worshiped Jesus in a way that others might not have understood or appreciated? What matters is not their view of your worship but rather God’s view of your worship. In this incident Jesus makes it very clear what He thought. He received this worship gladly. Genuine worship is never wasted. People express their desire and devotion to Jesus in many ways. You and I are not the “worship police”. Rather we should look at this woman as an example to follow…an example of radical worship, costing her everything and exposing her very soul to Jesus. That’s worship and when we do that I guarantee you it is never wasted!