Why this Waste?

³ 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.

⁴ Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? Mark 14

“Why this waste?”  I was travelling back from working with Samaritan’s Purse for Hurricane Sandy relief in New Jersey.  Jesse Williams and I were on Interstate 85 heading back to Tuscaloosa.  We talked about Christian authors who had made a major impact on our lives.  We both liked many of the same ones including Watchman Nee.  Then he asked me if I had ever heard of the short story that Watchman wrote called “Why this Waste”.  I found the article on google and read it aloud. 

Watchman recalls travelling home later in his years of ministry.  He had acquired no wealth or possessions.  The wear and tear of itinerant ministry had aged him quickly.  He looked old and wore out.  He stopped in a local restaurant for soup.  Then a well to do gentleman also walked in and ordered some food.  He looked at Watchman Nee with pity and disgust.  Then a light of understanding come over the gentleman, he knew this beggar.  They had attended University together.

The man addressed Watchman.  “What happened to you?  You had such promise.  You were one of the brightest in our class.  Look at you now!   Such a Waste!"  Watchman then share about the alabastar jar.

You can purchase the book for the rest of the story.  His main point is that Jesus desires for us to hold nothing back in giving all to Jesus.  Fully wasted on Him.

When you feel as if you wasted your life on Jesus…Know He is worth the trade.