Your Sacrifice Will Outlast You

Has God ever put something on your heart that felt costly? Maybe He nudged you to let go of a bad relationship, give up your Saturday to serve the poor, tell someone about Jesus, or be generous with your finances. When God prompts us to sacrifice something, we don’t always feel full of faith. Sometimes, it feels like a waste, and we try to look for reasons to ignore God’s prompting. Let’s take a look at a story in Scripture about a woman who made a costly sacrifice for Jesus: 

While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.

“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” Mark 14:3-9

1. Your Sacrifice Is Not a Waste

The surrounding people who witnessed the woman’s expensive sacrifice thought it was a waste of money. They thought the money could have been better spent elsewhere. Everyone is going to have an opinion about the best way to manage your time, money, or talents. When you make a decision to invest yourself in God’s house and Kingdom, some people won’t understand. But God’s opinion is the one that matters most—and in this story, He sees the woman’s sacrifice as beautiful. 

2. Your Sacrifice Is Spiritually Significant 

The surrounding people missed the significance of this woman’s actions. They rebuked her, only seeing her actions through natural eyes. But Jesus knew she was preparing Jesus’ body for burial. Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection marked the most significant event in history, and this woman came ready to take part. Jesus’ sacrifice is spiritually significant, which means the woman’s sacrifice—and yours—are also spiritually significant.

3. Your Sacrifice Will Outlast You

Jesus said whenever the Gospel is preached or presented, this woman’s sacrifice will be remembered. Her moment of sacrifice is still remembered and talked about today. Because whenever we make a sacrifice for Jesus, for the Gospel, or the Kingdom, it lives a lot longer than we do. It’s not just true for the woman with expensive perfume, but it's true for you and me. Your sacrifice will outlast you.

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