Expensive Gift

Expensive Gift

July 9, 2018

Matthew 26:9  "'This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.'"

Jesus had a circle of people close to him, not just the 12 disciples. Mary and Martha were two women who were constants in this stories about His life. Little is known about the two women, except that they were sisters and had a brother whom Jesus raised from the dead, Lazarus. Mary is believed to have been a woman of the night, someone who sold her body in exchange for money. Mary was likely the wayward sister. But despite her background, she came to accept the forgiveness of her sins and the salvation that Jesus offered her. And thus, she became similar to what you might call a friend and disciple of Jesus as well.

But before the forgiveness of her lifestyle, she made her money through detestable means. Coming to the knowledge and understanding of the Lord, she had to have given up that lifestyle, that way of earning a living. Having turned over a new leaf, she ended up living in the same household as her sister Martha as well as brother Lazarus, when Jesus comes to dinner. At that dinner was a notable event, Mary anointed Jesus with expensive perfume. Think about how she got that expensive perfume for a moment. She sold her body to men, in exchange for money that she used to buy that expensive perfume, and then would wear the expensive perfume to attract more men, keeping the circle of her income flowing. Now, she had expensive perfume and no income. That lifestyle was gone. Did she have any other skills to earn money? It is doubtful, since she chose to sell her body as the best means for earning a living. And what does she do with that perfume? She doesn't sell it to provide income for herself, she doesn't sell it and donate the money to the poor, she poured it on Jesus. The disciples complained about the waste, but Jesus chastised them, suggesting it was a perfectly fine give, though very expensive. 

That perfume represented a lot for Mary.  In keeping it and even wearing the perfume, she would be reminded of her old lifestyle. But she needed the money, too. She couldn't afford to just dump it all out in one setting. She needed the income. In the least she should have sold it to help provide for herself. But instead of providing for herself, she dumped it all out in one setting, perfume that was purchased through her promiscuous lifestyle. Be Jesus appreciated the gift. He didn't see it a waste of resources. He was honored by the expensive gift. He did not appreciate the gift because it was expensive, He appreciated the gift because of how much if cost Mary to give it away. 

I'm not going to ask you how much the most expensive gift cost that you've given to the Lord, but  I will ask how much it actually cost you. What did you have to give up in order to give the gift to Jesus? It cost Him His life to give you the gift of salvation, what is the total of your personal expense? Maybe it isn't about a dollar amount as much as it is a heart amount. Mary put her heart in it, in pouring the expensive perfume on Him. In essence, she was dumping our her entire life out for Him, as now she would have nothing left at all. She was now without income, or a source of future income, completely dependent on her brother and sister. All she has was the forgiveness of sins and her salvation.

You likely have more than just the forgiveness of your sins and salvation. You have far more than Mary did at this point in her life. She could not afford that expensive gift, but the Lord honored her for it. From an economic point of view and applying the same wisdom that the disciples applied, she should not have used up the perfume that night. It wasn't the right thing to do at the same time is was completely the right thing to do. She gave Him the most expensive gift she could, because her relationship with Him was worth far more than a year's salary. So, I'll ask again, how much has it cost you to give that gift to the Lord?

Don't take my word for it; look it up: Matthew 26:6-13, Luke 7:37-38, John 11:2 & 12:1-8

Freedom to Do

Freedom to Do

July 2, 2018

Romans 6:17  "But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slave to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance."

In the Old Testament, the Bible speaks often about setting a slave free. The instances around that freedom were always defined, that led to the freedom, but it never explained the outcome of that freedom. It seems obvious; the slave was free. The outcome and benefit to the slave was his personal freedom. We seldom have to define that benefit of freedom, thinking it self explanatory. Being free means you are open and able to do whatever it is you would like. Being free means no one is controlling you, telling you what to do, requiring anything from you, or forcing you to do something you do not want to do.

The Bible says very clearly, though, in the New Testament, that freedom from slavery isn't just about being free, it is freedom from something in order to do something else. You are freed from something; the hindrances are removed so you are able to do whatever it is you are supposed to now do in freedom. Being free does not mean you are floating in space. While you are free to relax when you need to relax, you are also free to be productive when you need to be productive. More specifically, you are free to serve the Lord, as He has something for you to do. This is voluntary, though, not something you are forced to do. He wants willing participants, those who choose Him and have a desire to do whatever it is He requires.

This isn't just about a mission in life or job that the Lord has for you and me. We are free from sin in order to submit to righteousness and holiness. Holiness seems ignored today, but we are asked to be holy if we want to accept what the Lord has for us. For some, that requirement to be holy feels like an obligation of drudgery, as it is in direct opposition to being free. It can feel like slavery, when your body wants to participate in sin or worldly activities, but you know you are asked to be holy. This is where the desire to serve the Lord kicks in gear. If you desire to serve the Lord, then you desire to be holy. The Bible uses the words, "slave to righteousness." It says we are free from sin and now a slave to holiness. It feels like going from one slavery to the next. 

As a slave you are not free to choose. But the Lord says very clearly, we are free to choose Him or not, to choose His way or not. The Lord does not keep us a slave. We, ask Christians, must acknowledge when we willingly want to come in to the Lord's family, that we will be asked to follow the guidelines of the father's house. This is also voluntary, as you can leave the father's house anytime you wish. You may struggle with the idea of being a slave to righteousness, but that is something you should want to do, not have to do. You are freed from sin so you can do what it is the Lord wants for your life. If you want the Lord, then you'll want what He has for you. Your desire, then, should be for His ways and His will and His plan. If you find yourself in a conflict with being a slave to righteousness, not wanting that lifestyle, you are more than welcome to become a slave to sin again. Just know there are consequences to both lifestyles. You have the freedom to do whatever it is you want to do. Use caution and care in exercising your freedom.

Don't take my word for it; look it up: Romans 6

Not Ready

Not Ready

June 25, 2018

Matthew 25:10  "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived."

Jesus spoke about the Kingdom of Heaven through parables. He did so several times, from several different angles, all so the point could get driven home. One of the themes of describing the Kingdom of Heaven was in reference to its timing. The timing of Heaven, when the Lord comes back again, will come as a surprise. He said expect it to come and wait patiently for it, but also in constant preparation for it, staying prepared. It will come when you least expect it and if you are not ready, then you will miss it.

Consider a storm shelter. If there hasn't been a storm in years and the storm shelter gets used as storage for junk, and isn't kept clean with fresh supplies, it will be no good in the day of trouble. A storm shelter's role is to provide safety during the severest of storms and it must be ready without notice, as predicting a severe storm is often impossible. The supplies in a storm shelter need to be refreshed constantly, even if it isn't being used, so when the time comes it can keep people alive. But it takes time and effort to maintain the readiness of a storm shelter. On warm and sunny days, when there is no threat of a storm, it is easy to get lazy and put off keeping the storm shelter ready. Jesus said the Kingdom of Heaven will come, but there will be many people who will have grown weary in staying prepared for it.

The parable of the ten virgins, waiting for the bridegroom, speaks to the readiness required for the Kingdom of Heaven. The bridegroom came in the middle of the night, and those who had not stayed prepared for it, and needed oil, were caught off-guard. They had been ready days and weeks ago, but got lazy and complacent, failing to stay prepared. When the bridegroom was coming, they had to go get oil for their lamps. In short, they were not ready and therefore had to hurry in an effort to not miss it. Unfortunately, when the bridegroom came back, they were not ready. In fact, they were not even present when the bridegroom came; they were off buying oil. Not only were they not ready, they were off doing something else.

While the parable speaks to the coming of the Lord, and being ready at all times with salvation in heart and hand, the parable speaks to the timing of the Lord and staying prepared for Him in general. No matter what it is in life, staying prepared is critical. In the Christian walk, this is not meant to stand alone for salvation, but for all aspects of the Lord's timing. You are either ready for the Lord to show up or you are not. There is no middle ground. You are either ready for the Lord to come back and save you or you will miss it. You are either ready for the Lord to bring about your miracle or you will miss it. You are either ready for the Lord to use you and take you to the next place in life or yo will miss it. If you are not ready, when the Lord brings about His timing, then you will miss it and be found doing something else.

What is worse than missing the Lord's time or His miracle, because you were not prepared for it, is what you'll be caught doing instead. The virgins were caught going to buy oil, but what will you be doing? Will you be proud of what you'll be caught doing, serving the poor or serving yourself? Not only will you miss the Lord's timing, but you'll suffer the embarrassment of what He will find you doing instead. 

Don't take my word for it; look it up: Matt 25