Wasting My Life

During staff prayer at Victory on Tuesday we sang a song I had never heard that said,

"I want to waste my life on You.
Like an alabaster jar,
I'm gonna waste it at your feet."

The song is referring to the New Testament story about Jesus being annointed with costly perfume (John 12:1-8). At first, I have to admit, I was a little disturbed by this. My life a waste for God? But then I realized it's all in your perspective. The perfume was very expensive and some thought it should have been sold to feed the poor - a more noble use in their minds. But Jesus said, "It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial." (John 12:7) So the perfume had a special purpose. Even though from the world's view it could have been used for something "better", in Jesus's mind, being "wasted" at His feet was exactly what it was created for.


When I share with people that Stephen and I are preparing for the mission field, many of them are surprised. "For how long?" they ask, thinking that this must just be a phase we're going through. Our response is always the same, "Until God sends us somewhere else or tells us to go home." At that point I can usually tell that they are thinking something like, "But why? You both work in ministry at a great church. You live in a nice area and your kids go to great schools. You have a comfortable life here." And so on and so forth.

Yes, all those things are true... BUT that's not what we were intended for. The circumstances of our life in Atlanta are just the alabaster jar, keeping us safe until it's time to be poured out. And once the pouring occurs, there's no turning back. When the woman was finished anointing Jesus there was nothing left of the perfume except the fragrance that filled the house.

So I pray that I would not be tempted to stay in my alabaster jar when it's time. I pray that I would not buy into the world's view of what my purpose should be. Instead I pray that my life would be a fragrant offering to God, poured out for His glory, wasted at His feet.