The Measure of Significance

“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. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. 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 14:6-9

Tangled tape measure
©iStockphoto.com/jennyhorne

It’s a familiar Bible story – one that is told in Sunday School and beyond. A woman comes to where Jesus is staying, breaks a jar of perfume in order to pour it all out on Jesus’ feet. She doesn’t save any for herself – in act of of selfless devotion, she gives it all. Immediately, the ridicule and questions begin. Other people have better ideas for how the expensive offering should have been spent; others have designs on what worship should look like. But Jesus silences her critics. He calls what she does “beautiful.” She gave unabashedly and without reserve – for Him.

Many of us may have wanted a stronger response from our Lord and Savior. He instead starts talking about His impending death and burial. We may be tempted to think the defense is insignificant in light of the reprimand she incurred, and the likely embarrassment that followed. But then He concludes with these words – “wherever the gospel is proclaimed int he whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”

His response wasn’t insignificant; His defense wasn’t inadequate. He knew what no one else in the room did. Her act would be a representation of the kind of selfless devotion Christ expected from all of His followers. The defense wasn’t completed in that moment, instead it would resound in eternity as her act was encapsulated in Scripture and told and retold through the ages.

Similarly, we may be tempted to think that we aren’t getting our dues for the sacrifices that we make for our King. It may seem that the rewards and the praise don’t measure up to the hurdles that we face. The costs may seem to far outweigh the benefits. However, we should remember that the accolades that we receive here aren’t the end of the story. The justice we receive on this Earth isn’t the final arbitration. The true measure of significance is how the things we do echo in eternity.  It’s their eternal worth that determines their value; not the temporal evaluation.

So let us strive for eternal significance. Let us approach even the everyday activities as an opportunity to sacrifice “us” for the sake of our King.  May we give all – without reserve and without calculation. May He consider our acts, and call them “beautiful.” Regardless of whether they are acclaimed on this Earth, may they be worthy of commendation in the throne room of Heaven.

Continue Reading

Reward of Favor

A few years ago, a Pew Research Center poll revealed that revealed that the goal of the majority of young people was to be rich and famous. Trumping some more noteworthy objectives, such as helping others or becoming more spiritual, it’s easy to see why rich and famous may have risen to the top of the list. It no longer seems that talent or skill is a requirement for fame (or riches). As one researcher stated it, “We’re seeing the common person become famous for being themselves.”

In a day where people come become “famous” amongst their group of Facebook “friends” simply for posting a noteworthy status, the average young person probably sees no problem expanding this new-found celebrity into a career. However, God’s Word makes it clear that His children should be concerned about a different type of acclaim (Mt. 6:1-4). We should be focused on the good things that our Father has to say about us, not the praise of others.

In deepening our understanding of this, Christ says that if we do receive our praise on Earth – we have already received the reward for our good deeds. In other words we shouldn’t do the things of God because we think it we will attain favor here and in Heaven. Instead – we need to choose. Are we going to do Christ-like things for the sake of praise from our fellow man or are we going to do them because we are eagerly anticipating the reward of favor from our gracious King? Are we broadcasting our good deeds so that others may think well of us, or are we doing them in secret so that our Father does?

We must ask ourselves – if I’m going to receive favor only one source, would I rather it be from finite man or from an infinite God? And if our aim is to receive our reward from God, then we need to make sure that our hearts and our words reflect that – and that we do things so that He knows of them – not so that others do.

 

Practically, what do you think it means to do good things “in secret” for the sake of our Father’s reward?

 

Continue Reading