Money and Worship

Now while Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. But when the disciples saw it, they were angry and said, “Why this waste? For this ointment could have been sold for a large sum, and the money given to the poor.” But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? She has performed a good service for me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. By pouring this ointment on my body she has prepared me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.” ~ Matthew 26:6-13


Worship is transcendent wonder. ~ Thomas Carlyle 

In these few lines, Matthew hits home on two issues that matter quite a bit in our current faith communities: how we spend our money and how we worship.  How many times have you been in a meeting or discussion at church where those have been the primary focus? I'm betting more than a few!
The disciples really aren't so far off from viewing things the way any reputable church treasurer we have in place at most churches would.  Waste isn't something most churches have the luxury for.
And this woman also touches a nerve regarding worship.  How she worships Jesus isn't what the disciples are used to. It doesn't follow the right liturgy or format. There isn't proper order or flow. She's not singing the right hymns. 

She is filled with wonder.
And with this woman's actions, the gospel, Jesus says, is told.  This woman, preparing Jesus for the burial to come, has become part of the good news.
For Jesus, as evidenced by the actions of this woman, how we spend our money and how we worship are led by the gospel.  We are here to spread the good news. When we ask about money and worship in our committees and our meetings, if the gospel leads the question, the answers may surprise us!

God of generosity and good news, help us to spread your gospel with the same love and abandon as the woman with the alabaster jar.  Amen.



Thoughts for engagement:

- Have you looked at the church budget? How much is spent on spreading the good news or mission?
- What can we learn about worship from this woman?
- Find other places in scripture where we are told how to worship.




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