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PGA Chaplain Bible Studies December 3rd - 9th 2007. For The Love of Money!“Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But one of the disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages”. He did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; as the keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.” John Chapter 12: verses 4 to 6. (New International Version) I must say I find how I use the money I have one of the hardest responsibilities in life. When I was young I wasted money because I lived from day to day in my own world, thinking only of myself. But since I have come to follow Christ, getting the balance right with money and what we have been given is important. I want to avoid the two extremes. First is the warning God gives and that is making money and having lots of it our main goal in life and then spending it on ourselves. Paul says in 1 Timothy chapter 6 verse 10 that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, showing how this drive can destroy our life and the fabric of relationships and society. Its often seems the more money we get the more we want. The second extreme I want to avoid is being stingy and greedy, keeping money to myself or ignoring working for money all together and living off others. In our reading today, Mary, who had witnessed Jesus raise her brother Lazarus from the dead, anoints Jesus with an expensive jar of oil pouring it on his feet and then wiping this with her hair. The fragrance filled the whole room. This was an expression of recognition of Jesus, love and gratitude and for a woman to wipe his feet with her hair shows little regard for her own appearance. It was also very generous. Judas thinks this is waste of money and oil, being the equivalent of a years wage for a workingman and could have been used for helping the poor. Since our reading shows Judas to be a thief, we can dismiss his concerns as selfish. It’s not so much how much or little money we have that is important, it’s how we use it and whether it has a controlling influence on our lives. Money is definitely overrated in society. This anointing of Jesus by Mary also has a deeper meaning as Jesus alludes to. In the immediate days Jesus will be arrested, and put on trial and crucified and Jesus alludes to Mary’s anointing as for his burial. He will die as foretold, but death will not be able to hold him. So this anointing has a significance that speaks of the greatest moment in history, Jesus death burial and rising. As such, the anointing is entirely appropriate, because it points to the rich love God has for humanity. In terms of how we spend our money, I believe the best principle is
to follow the example of Jesus who followed God’s plan and gave
up all he had for the sake of others. Prayer, Lord, help me to be wise yet generous with my money and not stingy. Amen. |
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