George Carlin once said about driving, "Ever notice anyone going faster than you is a maniac, and anyone going slower than you is a moron?"
We love to set ourselves, our opinion, as the standard, don't we?
Reading in Mark this morning,
"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." Mark 14:3-5 (NIV)
Sounds like a sound argument at first, doesn't it? Why waste money on something like this, be a good steward!
But notice Jesus' response to their rebuke.
"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 14:6-10 (NIV)
Jesus and "those present" saw the same thing. Some felt that it deserved a rebuke, but Jesus wanted to make sure that 2000 years later we would be still talking about it. He said "She has done a beautiful thing to me"
James teaches us, "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" James 1:19 (NIV)
Maybe this is why God gave us two ears, but only one mouth... and teeth to bite our tongue.
Let us pray today to see the actions of others the way the Lord does. Lord, grant us eyes to see and hearts to understand.
