WASTED ANOINTING
Pastor Joe Warner
Faith Fellowship, North Carolina
As a pastor or leader, have you ever felt that all your hard work wasn’t appreciated? Every week we give it our very best and can feel like no one appreciates all our sacrifice and effort.
In Mark 14:3-9, we read the following story: “While He was in Bethany at the home of Simon the Leper, He was reclining at the table, and a woman came with an alabaster vial of very expensive perfume of pure nard. She broke the vial and poured the perfume over His head. But there were some indignantly remarking to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted? For this perfume could have been sold for over three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they were scolding her. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone! Why are you bothering her? She has done a good deed for Me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me. She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial. Truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the entire world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.”
This woman took that which cost her much and poured it out for the Lord. Every week we give our time, treasures, and talent and pour it out in service to the Lord. Look at what the Lord Jesus said, “She has done what she could.” The Lord knows our limitations and sacrifice. He knows that in our hearts we have given it our all. There comes a time when we need to rest in the Lord and be at peace with that.
When I was a young pastor, the Lord spoke to me and gave me this promise. He said if I would care for His people during the week and do the work of the ministry, He would take care of our Sunday services. I’ve been amazed at His faithfulness throughout over 40 years of ministry.
He also said that what this woman had done would be remembered for eternity. Let us remember that there’s an eternal reward that awaits the servants of God. Nothing in the Kingdom of God is ever wasted or forgotten. On behalf of the Lord, I want to say to you, “Good job!”