Extravagant worship exposes hearts!
Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume … and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair.
John 12v3
in pouring out her most valuable item onto Jesus, Mary is pouring out her very self in one act of unbridled devotion. This is worship.
But Judas Iscariot, .. said, “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.”
John 12v4-5
Judas’ heart is exposed. He cannot see anything beyond a simple understanding of mission – providing for the poor.
Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.
John 12v6
Judas’ focus has a side agenda, it enriches himself and it makes him, the centre of attention since he distributes the funds.
Am I ready for my heart to be exposed by the extravagant worship others? If I take offence at someone’s worship, what is it saying about my heart?
Jesus replied, “… You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
John 12v7-8
Worship can be set against ministry. Jesus’ perspective that we will never eradicate need but that it encourages our focus on him links worship with ministry.
.
.
.
Photo by Zac Harris on Unsplash