March 17, 2008

The Well
Connecting Hope to the Hurting

Monday
March 17, 2008

POOR? ALWAYS!

Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had leprosy. During supper, a woman came in with a beautiful jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head. The disciples were indignant when they saw this. "What a waste of money," they said. "She could have sold it for a fortune and given the money to the poor."
But Jesus replied, "Why berate her for doing such a good thing to me? You will always have the poor among you, but I will not be here with you much longer. She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial. I assure you, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be talked about in her memory."
Matthew 26:6-13

Yes, we are leaving Joshua for a week. We are going to focus on Easter and the last week of the life of Jesus. Bear with me...I know yesterday was Palm Sunday, and that today's devotional describes what happened Saturday night, but just...just okay?

Well, right off the bat we see that Jesus was going against the people of His day by being in a leper's home. Yet, don't you think the man didn't stay a leper? Once we meet Jesus, it is hard to stay what we once were.

I would love to meet this brave, impulsive woman who risked reputation and financial freedom to worship at the feet of Jesus. It didn't matter to her that it was a leper's home — her Savior was there. Apparently, she was being obedient to God by anointing Jesus for His time of suffering. What is amazing is that the disciples became indignant over money, but aren't we the same way?

We, like the disciples, know that all God has to do is "think" and the poor people of our day would be rich. However, in His wisdom God chose to leave the poor among us to test our motives. What will we do with the gifts He blesses us with?

Let me share a few words of wisdom from Proverbs 19.

1 — It is better to be poor and honest than to be a fool and dishonest.
2 — Wealth makes many friends; poverty drives them away.
7 — If the relatives of the poor despise them, how much more will their friends avoid them. The poor call after them, but they are gone.
17 — If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord - and he will repay you!
22 — Loyalty makes a person attractive. And it is better to be poor than dishonest.

God often uses the people around us to help us understand our motives. Having three small children in our home has truly brought out the best and the worst in us. God has used their presence to help us gain a deeper understanding of faith and trust in God. These children are truly God's sandpaper in our lives right now. Yes, in His wisdom, God allows the poor to always be with us and uses them to help us grow spiritually. Heavenly Father, I praise you for Your mercies that are new every morning, for all people. I thank You for Your discipline and rebuke that helps me see myself as You see me. I thank you for the robe of righteousness that You dress me in even when I fail. I thank You for looking beyond my faults and seeing my needs and teaching me to do the same with others. Oh, Father, help us this day to understand our motives and to get our priorities in order. May all the glory go to You.

Okay, now, HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY! I think I finally have it right!

Hope you were encouraged.

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Cute little pic given to me by efriend Ada.

The Well

Connecting Hope to the Hurting

POOR? ALWAYS!