Unseen by Sara Hagerty

Author:Sara Hagerty
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 2017-07-18T00:00:00+00:00

“Why this waste?” A condemnation wrapped in a question. It is among the most powerful lines in Mary’s story, spoken by onlookers as she poured a fortune on Jesus’ feet. She’d grown accustomed to the scornful looks of the religious leaders, but these bystanders were Jesus’ friends—their condemnation perhaps, then, more jarring for her.

But Mary had been here before, frustrating those who valued her productivity over her passion. She had already been chastised by her sister, Martha, for wasting time at Jesus’ feet, but Jesus had praised Mary’s choice. She’d found what mattered. And she was developing a habit of this, uncapping her love and offending those who couldn’t handle the waste.

“Why this waste?” they asked. Their words shielded them from an expression of love they likely feared as well as craved. They too had been close to Jesus. They’d known there was something wildly different about this man, but they apparently were trapped in an old standard of measurement that dismissed devotion like this as waste. Now that she’d shown what she valued most, everyone knew she was different. Surely such extravagance must be a waste. After all, what would she have to show for it?

Wasteful. By their standards.

Precious. By His.

“Wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world,” Jesus said, “what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her” (Matt. 26:13). Jesus acclaimed Mary’s choice then, and He invites us to make the same choice now: to live by a reckless love—even, and perhaps especially, in our hiddenness.

Extravagant, hidden giving to Jesus at the expense of publicly productive Christian service will always offend. Yes, even Christians. Yet it is all over the Word of God. Read these verses with an eye for this uncorked, abandoned, and extravagant love that happens perhaps even at the expense of producing something for Him:

LORD, I have loved the habitation of Your house, and the place where Your glory dwells. (Ps. 26:8)

His house is rich. It’s where He is. Stay there for just a little while longer than you’re used to and, over time, it will no longer feel strange to orient your schedule around being in that place.

One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life. (Ps. 27:4)

When we cross over to heaven, we won’t discover a new, mysterious craving for God. It is here that we practice. We cultivate. We are made for this: to waste time simply being with Him. Sitting at His feet enjoying him isn’t a foolish expenditure of time. It’s strength training for heaven.

But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her. (Luke 10:42)

Jesus said this about a woman who chose to forfeit productivity and to risk judgment to sit with Him and learn from Him.

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

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