I imagine a collective gasp preceded the grumbling.

Simon the Leper hosted a banquet in honor of Jesus. Likely already healed by Jesus, Simon couldn’t shake his old nickname. Simon’s gratitude led him to invite others to experience the transformation Jesus offers.

Uninvited, a woman entered with a jar of expensive perfume. Ignoring everyone but Jesus, she anointed His head, engulfing the room with a sweet aroma.

The atmosphere shifted.

For a moment, the shock of her bold display probably silenced the room. The audacity! But anger quickly replaced shock.

Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.
Mark 14:3-5

It’s unlikely the men quietly observed her adoring worship. It’s unlikely one representative calmly presented the group’s concerns to Jesus. I suspect chaos erupted.

Their grumbling turned to angry accusations. The irate men pointed fingers and shouted rebukes. It’s ruined! Wasted!

To them, she wasted the ointment on Jesus. The last Seed post considers the woman’s adoration. This post considers the men’s expression of love.

They loved God by loving God’s beloved.

For 3 years, the disciples had heard Jesus’ instruction to serve the needy and witnessed the resulting joy and healing. In addition, Passover was a time of special giving to the poor so giving was top of mind.

This scene captures two simultaneous expressions of love: the woman’s singular focus on adoring Jesus and the disciples’ desire to serve the poor.
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Both perspectives stem from good intentions. Both adoring Jesus and following His command to care for the less fortunate express our love for God, yet Jesus’ response highlights His priorities:

Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me.
Mark 14:6-7

Jesus’ words remind us that while we’re called to serve others, our primary calling is to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. (Matthew 22:37-38). Loving our neighbors is related but secondary.

How often do we focus on doing good for others while neglecting our relationship with God?

Like the banquet guests, we can become so preoccupied with the mission that we miss opportunities for adoration.

We’re too busy serving to notice His magnificence.

Conversely, worship without action lacks sincerity. True love for God naturally overflows into love for others.

Consider these questions:

• How often do you prioritize serving others at the expense of worshiping God?
• When was the last time you paused to simply adore God for who He is?

I’m more like the dinner guests than the woman. I know what to do but forget why.

I sometimes love God’s people and neglect God.

For years, I approached my faith backward. After turning my back on God for a season, I thought I had to earn His love through good works. In my thinking, service was a way to apologize and make up for rejecting Him. So, I changed my ways and followed the Bible. I became a first-class “good do-bee”, hoping my efforts would attract God’s attention and love. But how good is good enough?

I learned that God’s love is not earned. No amount of service will make God love me more than He already does. His love is complete and perfect. The difficult part is accepting this gift.

Likewise, I can’t earn God’s forgiveness. Jesus already did that.

Doing good doesn’t ensure my ticket to heaven. Loving God with all my heart, soul and mind puts me in His presence—and that is heaven. From there, loving others flows naturally.

The woman’s act of worship was beautiful and reminds us to love God above all else. That love inspires our service to others. In both adoration and action, keep God at the center.

Your Turn:

• Adore Him: Set aside intentional time to worship God not for what He does, but for who He is.
• Balance Service with Worship: Base your acts of service in a heart for God. Make God your driving force.
• Reflect on God’s Love: Make a list of reasons you love God, including His attributes, creation, and His personal impact on your life.
• Follow Jesus’ Example: Remember that loving God and loving others are interconnected but must remain in the right order (Matthew 22:37-40).

This post was inspired by the first chapter of Graceful Influence: Making a Lasting Impact through Lessons from Women of the Bible by Lori Roeleveld.

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