Priorities!

Priorities!

You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” John 12:8 NIV

The Inspiration:

We read here again one of the events that occurred around the time Jesus went on the cross. Here was this family who had experienced Jesus in a unique way: Jesus had raised the brother Lazarus from the dead, and the family wanted to honour Jesus. In this season of Easter, do I even know the value of what I have received from God? It is usually easier to take a look at all the things I don't have, and complain about these, but if I would only think deep enough, I will see that the greatest gift I could have been given is the assurance of eternal life with God. Nothing can beat that. If I have secured eternal life, I have all that matters. Nothing down here can distract me from that goal, but then, I have to do all that God requires or demands from me, in order to secure that life. Is my life a daily expression of gratitude and thanksgiving for all I have received from God, or do I still need to be begged to thank God? 

The Contention:

Mary knew what she had received, and she was ready to show appreciation. According to Judas the treasurer of the disciples, the value of the perfume poured on Jesus' feet was about a year's wages. Think of this: a product bought with a year's salary was poured on the feet of a man. Then, the same woman took her precious hair, and wiped the feet of the man with it. Think of the complete surrender this showed: as far as Mary was concerned, her true worth wasn't in the things she had, but in the sacrifices she was ready to make. At all times, we define networth as what we own or have, but as far as God is concerned, true value is in what I give up in order to lay hold of that which is truly valuable. Jesus Himself laid down this rule earlier in his ministry: "A man's life does not consist of the abundance of the things that he possesses". For me,  I have this important decision to make, and it has to be about priorities. 

The Conclusion:

What is that key thing that if it is taken away, I know I am poor indeed? When I know what it is, then I know what is imperative, and what has to be guarded very jealously. Mary made a choice; Judas made a choice. Both were in the same room, but their ends were different. One is talked about today as the epitome of sacrifice; the other as an example of greed. The words of Judas sounded about right, but his heart's motives were wrong. He would pretend to care about the poor, but he was a thief who would steal from the disciples' purse. He would seek to defend the poor, but for Jesus, there was a right time for anything activity that would have eternal value. I must apply the lesson too: seek to be a blessing to people, but know how to hold on to that which is eternal. May that which I hold on to not become a weight that will keep me from that which God desires as critical for me. God's time of favour is here.