Today’s Bible reading from the Five Day Bible Reading Plan: Genesis 35-37; Psalm 12, Mark 14

Is your worship of Christ a waste? Sadly, the majority of our world would say, “Yes!” Worshiping One you cannot see, who lived 2000 years ago as a carpenter, who succumbed to the brutality of the Roman crucifixion? Many conclude that the way we worship Christ is a waste of time and resources.

This is nothing new. In Mark 14:3-9, a woman came in “with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head” (v. 3). This ointment was worth “three hundred denarii,” approximately the cost of a car today. This was no small offering. And this was not lost on the disciples.

One of the disciples (identified as Judas Iscariot in another gospel) basically asked, “Why this waste?” They feigned interest in helping the poor, but really, Judas was lining his pockets with the proceeds (read John 12:1-8). Yet, Christ asks a question in response:

“Why do you trouble her?” This anointing was preparation for burial–an act that every gospel would record. Jesus would only be with them for a short time, so they were to take care of the proper acts of worship while He was around.

As was said at the beginning, you will have people believe that using your time and resources is a waste of time. Remember, worship is ascribing worth to something or someone. For us, we ascribe worth to Someone — Jesus Christ. For this woman, this cost was minimal in comparison to His worth.

No wonder Jesus said, “And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her” (Mark 14:9).

It’s no waste to worship Him!