But there were some indignantly remarking to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted? For this perfume could have been sold for over three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they were scolding her.

During some moments in life, we are painfully aware that others are watching what we do. Some of us avoid being put under that scrutiny as much as possible. In a world full of opinions, judgment can come whether we have done right, wrong, or nothing at all. This lady who made herself vulnerable in displaying her love for Jesus immediately faced judgement for her act. From the perspective of all the guests, the valuable perfume was being wasted, destroyed for no purpose. Their idea of being useful was to do things for God, the woman who broke this bottle did so because she recognized that Jesus is God and worth all she could give.

When we think about living out our faith, it can be intimidating to know we may be judged or misunderstood. Many people admire those who do good things but to love Jesus and dedicate your life to Him sounds crazy and over-the top to worldly minds. Your dedication to Jesus and worship of Him will not always be the cool thing to do even among the Christians around you. As the Holy Spirit prompts, you will give sacrificially, love extravagantly, and live missionally in a way that seems wasteful to other people. Even among those who accepted Jesus into their home, this woman stood out for extravagant love for Jesus. Wherever you stand with Jesus today—new to your faith, in a stagnant season, or looking for how to grow more—you can be confident that He is more valuable than all the things that you could spend your life investing in. Nothing is wasted in Him and no resources can be wasted on Him. He is worthy of it all.

• What are some sacrifices you’ve made in following Jesus?
• Who do you find it difficult to display your faith around? Why?
• Pray and ask God to keep your eyes fixed on Him and to grow you in relationship with Him.