Mark 14:4-5
Our
world faces the clash of value systems. I’m not simply talking about Islam
here. I am talking about us and our value system. You can tell when value
systems are clashing when people say one thing and do another. The value system
of our heart bumps into the value system of our wants and desires. This area of
wants and desires is driven by the value system of the world. It is the system
that promotes size 2 as the ideal size for a woman, or that being a beer
drinking, sports watching man is the best we can do.
Our
value system, often called our worldview, often gets put to the test around
money. Money is an outgrowth of our heart. Where we put our treasure we will
find our heart. So if we have the big house, TV, boat and SUV’s but can’t pay
the bills or give our of our wealth in obedience to Scripture, our value system
is being stressed.
Don’t
feel too bad, yet. The disciples had the same problem before and after Jesus’
resurrection. Our text tells of a meal that took place just a few short days
before Jesus died. A woman has entered the room and wasted a very expensive jar
of perfume on Jesus’ head. And when I say expensive, I mean expensive. This
would be almost $70,000 in today’s money. I don’t know about you, but 70K is a
lot of cash. And she just wasted in on Jesus’ head.
At
least some of the disciple’s value system was in clash that day. They saw the
money pouring out and they got angry with the woman. They saw it as a waste.
But could it have been something else that drove their anger?
Maybe
they were greedy and wanted a portion of that money for themselves. Maybe they
were jealous wishing they had thought of honoring Jesus in such an extravagant
manner. Maybe they had a genuine concern for the poor, having listened to Jesus
and taken what He said seriously. Maybe they were angry at being upstaged by a
woman, since they were after all friends of the honored guest, Jesus. We will
never know.
What
we do know is that money was at the heart of it. They saw money and it caused
them to boil. Whatever reason drove them to it, they got mad. And they took
their anger out on her. They should have been mad at themselves for their greed
or lack of appreciation for Jesus’ care. They could have redoubled their
efforts to help the poor, being driven by her example of generosity. They could
have swallowed the humble pill and stepped back from the stage. But they didn’t.
Where
is your value system on trial? Part of the Jesus-follower’s life is
self-reflection. We are supposed to hear the Holy Spirit speaking to us about
our priorities. He is supposed to speak to us about our actions. When we do
something that violates our stated beliefs, we are supposed to get a prick, a
check in our spirit, warning us about the disobedience. Are we listening for
those course corrections and obeying?