By Bill Eliff
What we really are — and what we really love — is always more visible than we realize. We were created by God to love in the deepest, purest way. We have the wiring for divine love to flow through us like an electrifying current, giving light to thousands. But this love is often short-circuited and rerouted by a sad, devious affection — the love of self.
A Humble Woman, Divine Love
Jesus was in His final hours before His crucifixion. A woman came to Him and poured out her love on Jesus, anointing His head with expensive perfume, with no thought of herself. “While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to Him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on His head as He was reclining at the table” (Matt. 26:6-7 NIV).
The disciples were indignant and said, “Why this waste? …this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor” (Matt. 26:8-9). Their spiritual arteries were closed to the love of God. They had more logic than love, and they demeaned the woman and all she had done. Jesus rebuked them immediately.
Whatever you do to honor and bless Jesus is never a waste. No cost is ever wasted on Him who owns everything.
When you do the best you can from the purest motives and your Lord accepts your service, do not expect that others will approve all your actions. There was never a more beautiful proof of love to Christ than this anointing at Bethany, yet the disciples found fault with it.
Charles Spurgeon wrote in the Spurgeon Study Bible that, as they could not object to the action itself, they objected that another thing would have been better. There is a great deal of that kind of wisdom in the world. But if we wait until we learn that wisdom, we will never do anything for our Lord. If this devoted and enthusiastic woman had waited for the advice of these prudent people, she would neither have sold the ointment nor poured it out. She did well to take counsel with her own loving heart and then to pour the precious oil on that dear head that was soon to be crowned with thorns. She thus showed that at least one heart in the world thought nothing was too good for her Lord, and that the best of the best ought to be given to Him.
A Selfish Heart
The next thing that happened was one of those disciples, Judas, going to the chief priests, the enemies of Jesus. His request of them was telling and clear. “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him over to you?” (Matt. 26:15).
On this night, one loved Jesus so much that she gave all she had simply to anoint His head. One loved himself so much that he sold out the Lord of glory — his own Savior — for small change.
Father, forgive me for every selfish moment and motive in my life. Cleanse me and fill me, Holy Spirit, with Your all-consuming love. Give me the reckless abandon to do whatever love prompts, giving unfettered worship to You and self-sacrificing service to all those around me. May the fragrance of my love for You fill every room.
