God Sends the Right People Who Won't Waste You

Devotional

Day 1: God works through people to bring His blessings.

The Lord often chooses to deliver His provision and answer our prayers through other individuals. He parted the Red Sea through Moses and fed the multitude through a young boy's offering. This pattern reveals that our interactions are not merely social; they are spiritual encounters. Being mindful of how we treat others is crucial, as they may be the very vessel God intends to use for our breakthrough. [10:25]

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19 ESV)

Reflection: Who is one person in your life you may have previously overlooked, and how might God be inviting you to see them as a potential conduit of His blessing?

Day 2: Jesus welcomes you despite your past.

The woman with the alabaster flask was known by all as a sinner, yet she found a welcome in the presence of Jesus that she did not find elsewhere. Her checkered past did not disqualify her from His grace. This is a profound reminder that Christ’s invitation is extended to all, regardless of history or reputation. He offers a love that transforms and a welcome that heals. [22:22]

And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. (Luke 7:37-38 ESV)

Reflection: Is there an area of your past that causes you to feel unworthy to approach God? How does the story of this woman challenge you to bring that very thing to Jesus?

Day 3: Your greatest treasure is your surrendered life.

The woman brought an expensive flask of perfume, worth a year's wages, but that was not the treasure Jesus desired most. He wanted her—her heart, her devotion, her life. This shifts our understanding of value; God is not primarily interested in our material offerings but in us. When we surrender ourselves to His will, He promises not to waste our lives but to fulfill our purpose. [41:40]

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21 ESV)

Reflection: In what practical way can you offer more of yourself—your time, your gifts, your heart—to God this week, recognizing that you are the treasure He wants?

Day 4: Do not let judgment hinder grace or growth.

Simon the Pharisee judged both the woman and Jesus, tooting his own horn and forgetting his own need for grace. His internal monologue reveals a heart that values appearance over authenticity. This serves as a warning against spiritual pride and a call to remember our own journey. We are called to extend the same grace we have received, embracing others in their process. [48:46]

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2 ESV)

Reflection: Where have you recently been quick to judge someone else’s journey or shortcomings? How can you choose to extend grace instead, remembering your own need for it?

Day 5: Use your God-given talents faithfully and promptly.

The woman stepped into a role someone else had neglected, washing Jesus' feet with her tears. Her willingness to use what she had in that moment was honored. This story illustrates that God will not wait indefinitely for us to act; if we hesitate, He will raise up another. Our talents are not our own to hoard but are given to be used for His glory in the opportunities He provides. [55:50]

“Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.” (1 Timothy 4:14 ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific talent or idea God has placed on your heart that you have been hesitant to act upon? What is one small step you can take this week to be faithful with it?

Sermon Summary

Luke 7 retells the encounter between Jesus and a woman known in the city as a sinner, and uses that scene to teach about how God moves through people, how worth and identity shape ministry, and how time, treasures, and talents should be stewarded. The narrative highlights that God sends the right people into lives—often through ordinary, imperfect people—and that blessings usually arrive by means of someone else. The woman hears that Jesus is present, moves into his vicinity despite judgmental eyes, and pours out a costly alabaster flask, an act that shows total surrender rather than mere charity. Her tears, public vulnerability, and extravagant offering demonstrate repentance, devotion, and the recognition that Jesus wants the person, not just the gift.

The passage contrasts two responses: one of welcome and one of judgment. The religious host judges the woman’s past and assumes a prophet would have known her history; the woman nonetheless receives acceptance from Jesus. That contrast exposes how churches and people can misapply holiness into elitism, and reminds readers to welcome those whose pasts look messy. The teaching insists that time spent with Jesus never wastes a life; encountering Christ stewards sorrow into restoration. It also insists that God honors true treasure—people who surrender themselves—more than ritual offerings. The alabaster box represents a year’s wages; the narrative reframes that expenditure into a surrendered life, pointing to the priority of personal devotion over mere material giving.

Finally, the passage warns against misused talents and misplaced identity. Proper identity keeps gifts in their lane, prevents envy and judgment, and encourages faithful use of abilities where God intends. When others fail to act, God will sometimes raise a willing person to fill the gap. The text calls for humility, practical welcome, disciplined hearing, and bold surrender: listen for God’s presence, value people as treasures, steward time and resources wisely, and use gifts where God equips rather than chasing applause or comparison.

Key Takeaways

1. God sends the right people God frequently moves through ordinary, imperfect people to bring deliverance, provision, and direction. Expect help to arrive by human hands; resist the temptation to dismiss potential blessings because of someone’s past or inconvenient appearance. Openness to people becomes openness to God’s chosen means of grace. [10:25]
2. Jesus doesn't waste your time Encounters with Christ transform sorrow into restoration; time with Jesus repurposes regret into renewed purpose. Guard minutes and attention toward what cultivates spiritual growth rather than endless scrolling or fruitless complaints. Prioritizing presence with God yields spiritual economy where every invested moment matters. [29:04]
3. God won't waste your treasures Surrender of what seems most valuable invites God to repurpose it for mercy and mission rather than loss. Offering a costly gift became total devotion, showing that God esteems surrendered lives above material exchange. When God receives the heart, material things find kingdom meaning. [38:34]
4. Recognize yourself as the treasure Identity matters: people hold intrinsic value beyond utility or past mistakes. Seeing oneself as treasured by God guards against settling for disrespect, manipulative relationships, or living under someone else’s definition. Self-worth rooted in divine valuation refuses degradation and opens doors to healthy calling. [41:40]
5. Use talents in your lane Gifts flourish when used where God intended them; misapplied skills lead to wasted opportunity and envy. Discernment about calling prevents comparison and keeps ministry effective, while willingness to step up matters when others fail to act. Move with courage into assigned spaces before someone else fills the gap. [54:54]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:02] - Opening and gratitude
[06:25] - Luke 7 passage introduced
[09:43] - God sends the right people
[25:28] - People who won't waste your time
[32:21] - People who won't waste your treasures
[49:35] - Treasure versus talents and identity
[56:56] - Steward talents; closing prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading: Luke 7:36-50 (ESV)
36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.” 41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Observation questions

What specific actions did the woman perform for Jesus when she entered the Pharisee's house?
What was the Pharisee's internal reaction to the woman's actions, and what assumption did he make about Jesus?
According to Jesus, what was the connection between the amount of debt forgiven and the amount of love shown?
What did Jesus point out that the woman provided for him that his host, Simon, had failed to provide?

Interpretation questions

Why do you think the woman's tears were such a significant part of her act of worship and repentance?
The Pharisee saw the woman only as "a sinner," but Jesus saw her differently. What does this contrast reveal about how God views people versus how we often view each other?
Jesus said her actions showed that "she loved much." What does this tell us about the relationship between receiving forgiveness and our capacity to love?
The perfume was worth a year's wages [38:34]. Why was the act of her breaking the flask and pouring it out so powerful?

Application questions

God frequently moves through ordinary, imperfect people to bring help into our lives [10:25]. Who has been an unexpected blessing to you recently, and how can you become more open to receiving help from people you might normally overlook?
Time spent with Jesus is never wasted and can repurpose regret into renewed purpose [29:04]. What are some practical ways you can guard your minutes and attention to prioritize time with God instead of "endless scrolling"?
When we surrender what seems most valuable to us, God repurposes it for his mission [38:34]. What is one "treasure" (time, talent, or possession) you feel God might be asking you to surrender to him completely? What makes that difficult?
Our identity is rooted in being God's treasure, not in our utility or past mistakes [41:40]. How would living from this truth change the way you handle disrespectful relationships or someone else's negative opinion of you?
Our gifts flourish best when used where God intended them, not in areas where we are comparing ourselves to others [54:54]. What is one thing you are uniquely good at that brings you joy when you use it to serve others? How can you "stay in your lane" this week?
Sometimes God will raise up a willing person to fill a gap when others fail to act [55:25]. Is there an area in your community, church, or family where you see a need and feel a nudge to step up, even if it's not your "job"?

Sermon Clips

She broke it, brought it, but that ain't what he wanted. He wanted her. He didn't want the money. He didn't want the house. He didn't want the car. He wanted her. And dear brothers and sisters, when you realize that you are the treasure that god wants, that is all he's asking for, and you realize that you are valuable. And you'll find people who won't waste the treasure aka you. You're the treasure. You're the treasure. You you are the treasure, men and women. You are the treasure. And especially to my ladies real quick, recognize how valuable you are. When you recognize you are valuable, you will not allow any man, any joker to get in your presence because they don't they don't value you as a treasure. [00:41:08] (63 seconds) #YouAreTheTreasure

Amen. Because watch this. That person can hold the blessing. Come on. God has for you. That's why you have to be careful of how you treat a person. Watch this. Because that person, dear brothers and sisters, has somebody's rent. Oh, y'all y'all ain't messing with y'all. Come on. That person has that job opening that you've been looking for. That person has that business connection that you are looking for. Everything that god does, he does through a person, dear brothers and sisters. [00:11:32] (31 seconds) #BlessingsThroughPeople

She heard that Jesus was in town and when she heard that, this woman wanted to get his attention. She didn't come to see Peter. She didn't come to see Matthew. She didn't come to see Mark. She didn't come to see some she ain't come to see none of them. She came to see Jesus. Come on. Tell your neighbor and say, neighbor, you look good, but I ain't here to see you. You look great. You look amazing, but I ain't here to see you. I ain't here to see you. I love you, but I ain't here to see you either. I'm here to see Jesus, and we gotta come with an idea that we're gonna have an encounter with Jesus because only Jesus changes our lives. [00:28:01] (59 seconds) #SeekAnEncounterWithJesus

I know you're blessed. I know you got a nice car. I know you got your wonderful soup song, but don't forget where you came from. Right. That's it. That's it. Yeah. Let me say that again. Don't forget where you came from. I know you don't eat at certain places. I know you don't go to certain places, and I got you, and I respect that. But don't forget where you came from. Meaning, don't toot your whole nose. Why keep saying horn? Don't toot your nose at somebody. Because now he is thinking that he is better than this woman. Come on. You might not be begging on the corner, but don't be thinking you're better than a person that is begging on the corner. [00:48:59] (55 seconds) #RememberYourRoots

So please understand this, dear brothers and sisters, that it is interesting to me that the bible points out the fact that this woman had a shortcoming in her life. Come on. The bible could have said a woman that was in need. Come on. Or a woman who fell down. It could have said a woman that people didn't like, but, no, the bible tells us that she was a sinner. And I think the bible is letting us know she had a good thing because it is reminder that we are not all that. Let me say that again. You ain't all that. Not to bust your bubble. I'm not saying that you didn't have confidence, but your brothers and sisters, you ain't all that. [00:25:39] (59 seconds) #HumbleNotPerfect

So the enemy sat there and said, if you knew who you were, and which means sometimes we allow the enemy, dear brothers and sisters, to creep in our lives, and the enemy will make us say stuff that we weren't supposed to say. And the enemy tried to make Simon question Jesus' identity, but Jesus knew who he was. And when you thank him, when you know who you are, it don't matter what they say. That's it. Come on. Come on. You understand who god created you to be. So he she's he's there and says, if, which means if you don't have a proper understanding of your identity, you will waste your talents. [00:51:29] (58 seconds) #KnowYourIdentity

but as I may mention, I have been teaching for the past month and a half about god is sending the right people. I've been really trying to encourage that into the spirit and the hearts of our congregation is in those that I share that true indeed that god is sending the right people. And it's important to understand and remember that many of the things god does, please understand, he does through other people. Many of the things if you don't remember anything else I say, many of the things that god that you're praying about, god would do through someone. [00:09:45] (40 seconds) #GodSendsRightPeople

Come on. And as disciples of Christ, come on. Come on. As disciples, dear brothers and sisters, he is teaching you. Pastor is teaching you how to speak about Jesus on his behalf. The bible did not ever say, go make Christians. Not now time did it say make Christians. Come on. It said, make disciples, people who are disciplined in the way and can speak about the way in a manner or fashion that is appropriate. So he's trying to teach you how to be, watch this, disciples. Come on. Come on. So that we can represent the kingdom appropriately. [00:15:52] (47 seconds) #MakeDisciplesNotFans

Listen, dude. Listen. Whatever we do, especially as Christians, we you know, we we we get in the habit of celebrating stars more than our men and women of god. Even as Christians, we get in the habit, you know, when you see certain folks, if you had a chance to see, I don't know, what's a star, LeBron or or Steph Curry or Michael Jordan. He'd be like, yo. Yo. Let me take a picture with her. Come on. But then when you see the men and women of God, he'd be like Come on now. Come on. We gotta do a little better. Guess guess who ain't praying for you? LeBron? [00:02:45] (35 seconds) #CelebrateSpiritualLeaders

Come on. Micah Jordan ain't praying for you, but your men and women of god are praying for you and they're helping you in this seed. And so, yeah, just make sure and I didn't even know. We we were two days talking, and we had take we talk all the time. He ain't saying nothing about his birthday. It was on March 12. I was like, wait a minute, doc. You see? Yeah. So so, yeah, we're gonna have to do something for you for your birthday, and this was a beautiful thing that god has blessed you with another day or whatnot. And then he already kinda introduced my family and friends or whatnot. So [00:03:24] (33 seconds) #MenAndWomenOfGodSupportYou

Many of the things if you don't remember anything else I say, many of the things that god that you're praying about, god would do through someone. Come on. He parted the Red Sea through a person. Come on. He killed Goliath through a person. Come on. He fed the 5,000 what? Through a what? Person. Come on. He will return also through what? A person. Come on. So everything that god does, he would do through a person, and that's why you have to be mindful, uh-oh, of how you treat people. Come on. Because you could be entertaining, come on, an angel in disguise [00:10:14] (44 seconds) #GodWorksThroughPeople

Come on. Because y'all had people in your life. They've wasted stuff. Come on. Right. Come on. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Come on. Come on. You wanna preach? Come come on. You can preach. Yeah. Come on. She said it. You have people that wasted your time. Come on. Come on. Your energy. Come on. Your words of encouragement. Come on. Your food, you bought groceries, and they wasted stuff. Uh-oh. Come on. Even in the church oh, I hate to do it like this. But the church have had people, and they don't even see them no more. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Y'all talking to me like I'm at courageous. [00:12:14] (37 seconds) #GuardYourGifts

Just looking. Yeah. Yeah. Come on. Sometimes the church helps a person, walks through it, and then all of a sudden, they dipped. Come on. And then they wonder why the church feels a little reluctant on help folk helping people because sometimes church uh-oh. I can say it. Okay. Come on. Sometimes old boys, sometimes we can be ungrateful. Sometimes. Because what happens oh, lord Jesus. I'm on I'm on a I'm on a because see what happens sometimes in church listen. People come from their old church to the new church and tell them what they used to do at the old church, [00:12:51] (53 seconds) #ChurchGraceAndReality

but if you like your old church so more so much, why you at why you're not there? Oh. Come on now. I'm sorry. Some of y'all just now meet me. I'm sorry. I need me to step on no toes. I'm sorry. Y'all just met me, and some of y'all will be like, it's gonna get better, though. It's gonna get better. So here we find ourselves in this text, dear brothers and sisters. God is teaching us through the book of Luke. Watch this. That he will send the right person. Luke, if you all know him, scholars and teachers and understanding of the word, is a third gospel. [00:13:46] (38 seconds) #GodSendsTheRightPerson

Come on. There are people that's speaking on your behalf and they never got permission from you to speak on your behalf. Come on. But the gospels, the Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts all got permission to speak about Jesus because they understood the characteristics of who Jesus was. Come on. And as disciples of Christ, come on. Come on. As disciples, dear brothers and sisters, he is teaching you. Pastor is teaching you how to speak about Jesus on his behalf. The bible did not ever say, go make Christians. Not now time did it say make Christians. Come on. It said, make disciples, [00:15:30] (49 seconds) #SpeakWithDiscipleVoice

people who are disciplined in the way and can speak about the way in a manner or fashion that is appropriate. So he's trying to teach you how to be, watch this, disciples. Come on. Come on. So that we can represent the kingdom appropriately. Come on. And people who are as I get ready to get into this, people who are mad at the church, a lot of times, they are mad because they ran into Christians. They didn't meet disciples. They met Christians. They met Christian pastors. They met Christian prophets. Come on. They met Christian prophetess, but they didn't meet disciples. [00:16:18] (53 seconds) #RepresentTheKingdom

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God Sends the Right People Who Won't Waste You

Devotional

Day 1: God works through people to bring His blessings.

Day 2: Jesus welcomes you despite your past.

Day 3: Your greatest treasure is your surrendered life.

Day 4: Do not let judgment hinder grace or growth.

Day 5: Use your God-given talents faithfully and promptly.

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

God Sends the Right People Who Won't Waste You

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