Today's Devotional

May 5, 2005

Subject:  Alabaster Box II - The Sacrifice Part

Matthew 26:7 - 10 "There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.  But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?  For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.  When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me."

We have IRAs, 401-K's, Thrift Savings Plans, and a whole host of other investment options that allow us to store up much treasure.  Now lets say we took one of those plans and began investing in it from a very early age and then one day later in life decided to take all of that money and drive around town and give it to the next guy on the corner with a "will-work-for-food" sign.  People would call you crazy and probably a lot of other names.  This is what they did to the woman with the alabaster box of "very precious" ointment/perfume.

The emphasis is on "very precious."  I mean this was really valuable stuff that she was using to pour over Jesus.  No doubt this woman had been storing up this precious ointment/perfume for sometime because it was so valuable.  Then to take something so valuable and precious and pour it all out at one time, that was a great sacrifice.  The disciples were calling her crazy because they didn't feel what she was feeling and because their hearts weren't in the place that hers was, they couldn't understand that level of sacrifice.  

Today, what are you pouring your life into that is precious and valuable?  It might be stock options at your company or one of the other investments listed above.  It could be your job, your children, your family, friends or your church.  Any of these things could be your "precious ointment."  The question is can you take that "precious ointment" that you've invested in so heavily for so long and today simply sacrifice it to God?  He's not necessarily asking for the stuff, but He wants to see a heart that doesn't call that crazy.  He wants to see a heart that is willing to give it all up for Him.  

Today what are you doing with your "alabaster box?"

Carlen