The Principle of Waste: The Gospel's Call to Devotion

Devotional

Day 1: Breaking the Alabaster Jar

Mary knelt in Simon’s house, clutching her alabaster flask. She broke it open, filling the room with the scent of nard. Disciples muttered about waste, but Jesus silenced them: “She has done a beautiful thing to me.” Her act foreshadowed His burial—a lavish offering for the One who’d soon pour Himself out completely. [23:07]

Mary’s worship wasn’t measured by practicality but by surrender. Jesus tied her sacrifice to the gospel itself, declaring her story inseparable from His. When we give extravagantly to Christ, we proclaim His worth—not just with words, but with costly love.

What have you labeled “too much” to give Jesus? Where does fear of waste stifle your worship?

“For when she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
(Matthew 26:12-13, NIV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to reveal one area where He wants your unreserved surrender.
Challenge: Give something valuable (time, money, or talent) today in a way that feels “wasteful” to human logic.

Day 2: Perfume and Proclamation

Judas saw waste. Jesus saw prophecy. Mary’s ointment, worth a year’s wages, became a sermon illustration for all time. Christ fused her act to the gospel’s global reach: her story would echo wherever His cross was preached. The gospel isn’t just news to believe—it’s a life to pour out. [25:48]

Every act of devotion fuels gospel witness. Mary’s “waste” showed the world that Jesus is worth more than efficiency, comfort, or approval. When we prioritize His pleasure over practicality, we embody the gospel’s scandalous grace.

What mundane task could become worship if done for His eyes alone?

“Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
(Mark 14:9, NIV)

Prayer: Thank God for three specific ways the gospel has transformed your priorities.
Challenge: Share Mary’s story with one person today, linking it to Jesus’ sacrifice.

Day 3: Waste as Worship

David’s warriors broke through Philistine lines for a cup of water. When they offered it, David poured it out—a drink fit only for the Lord. Like Mary’s perfume, this “waste” honored God’s worthiness. True worship measures sacrifice by His value, not earthly math. [58:11]

God’s economy rewards radical devotion. The world—and our flesh—demand ROI. But Jesus praises those who “lose” their lives, time, or treasure for Him. Every poured-out flask, every spilled cup, declares: “He is worthy.”

What practical obligation have you placed above impractical worship?

“But he said, ‘Far be it from me, Lord, to drink this! This is the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives!’ So he refused to drink it.”
(2 Samuel 23:17, NIV)

Prayer: Confess one area where you’ve prioritized productivity over God’s pleasure.
Challenge: Do one “impractical” act of kindness today without explaining or justifying it.

Day 4: What She Could

Mary didn’t raise the dead like Lazarus or preach like Peter. She had a flask, hair, and a willing heart. Jesus didn’t demand more than her “could.” Her small offering, given fully, became eternal. The gospel thrives on ordinary people doing what they can. [26:18]

God uses your “could,” not your “can’t.” Comparing yourself to others paralyzes; focusing on Christ mobilizes. Mary’s story proves that the size of your gift matters less than the surrender behind it.

What’s in your hand today that Jesus is waiting to bless?

“She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.”
(Mark 14:8, NIV)

Prayer: List three “small” resources you possess, asking God how to use one for Him.
Challenge: Write “I CAN” on your palm—do that task you’ve dismissed as insignificant.

Day 5: Crowns at His Feet

Elders in Revelation cast their crowns before the throne, declaring Christ alone worthy. Mary’s perfume foreshadowed this: her treasure became His tribute. The gospel’s endgame isn’t our enrichment but His exaltation. Our greatest joy lies in His satisfaction. [32:47]

Heaven’s currency is wasted worship. When we live to magnify Christ—not manage outcomes—we store up eternal crowns to lay at His feet. Satisfaction comes not from keeping score, but from keeping Him central.

Will you let today’s choices be measured by His smile?

“The twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: ‘You are worthy, our Lord and God…’”
(Revelation 4:10-11, NIV)

Prayer: Visualize laying one achievement before Jesus. Release it to Him.
Challenge: End today by writing “For Your pleasure” on a mirror or phone lock screen.

Sermon Summary

We return to Matthew 26 and see Mary anointing Jesus as an act that ties directly to the gospel. We define the gospel as the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ that secures forgiveness, reconciliation, and transformation. We notice Mary hears Jesus predict his death and responds in faith by breaking open costly ointment and pouring it on him. We observe Judas and some disciples call that act wasteful while Jesus calls it a memorial and links it to the proclamation of the gospel. We recognize that the preaching of the gospel should produce devotion, not self centered religion. We learn that living faith issues in visible acts; Mary believed, and her belief overflowed into worship. We accept the tension between cultural prudence and sacrificial devotion and refuse to let worldly measures of usefulness dictate our worship. We hear a clear principle that God values the wholehearted pouring out of what we have, however small or costly, and that such pouring honors Christ and advances gospel witness. We understand the gospel places us back under worship, not self improvement, and that our highest calling becomes pleasing God rather than seeking personal benefit or praise. We embrace the practical invitation to do what we can in our contexts, to pour our time, resources, and affection out for God, and to measure usefulness by whether our actions satisfy him. We take comfort that God never wastes genuine devotion offered for his pleasure and that sowing to the Spirit yields life while sowing to the flesh yields decay. We commit to ask daily what most satisfies God, to pour out our lives in prayer, service, and love, and to trust that when we act for his pleasure the gospel’s preaching will remember and honor such offerings.

Key Takeaways

1. The gospel demands costly worship The gospel centers on Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection and calls for responses that cost us something real. When worship commits valuables, time, or reputation to honor Christ, the gospel both explains and justifies that cost. True devotion refuses to reduce the gospel to personal benefit and instead displays Christ worth through costly giving. [25:48]
2. Faith proves itself in action Faith that understands Christ’s words moves our hands and feet to obey even when the motive looks impractical. Mary’s anointing shows belief translating into tangible worship, proving that authentic faith produces visible output. We should expect our trust in Christ to shape what we do, not merely what we affirm. [23:57]
3. Waste poured out becomes power What the world calls waste often communicates the deepest worship and releases spiritual power. Pouring out ourselves and resources for Christ breaks worldly calculations and demonstrates ultimate allegiance to him. The economy of the kingdom rewards surrender, not accumulation. [35:24]
4. Satisfying God, not self, matters Our primary aim becomes bringing pleasure to God rather than extracting blessings for ourselves. Choosing actions that satisfy God reframes service from transactional duty to intimacy and delight. When we live to please him, spiritual fruit and personal flourishing follow as byproducts. [41:29]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[16:08] - Setting and context in Matthew 26
[18:14] - Defining the gospel clearly
[22:39] - Mary anoints Jesus in faith
[25:33] - Gospel linked to Mary’s memorial
[27:09] - Do what you can for God
[35:24] - Waste as a principle of power
[41:29] - Living to satisfy God
[51:02] - Questions about everyday sacrifice
[62:31] - Closing prayer and dismissal

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Matthew 26:6-13 (KJV)
6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, 7 There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. 8 But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? 9 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. 10 When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. 11 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. 12 For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. 13 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

Observation Questions

What two contrasting reactions did Mary’s act of anointing Jesus provoke among those present (Matthew 26:8-9)?
How did Jesus connect Mary’s act of pouring out the ointment to the proclamation of the gospel (Matthew 26:13)? [25:33]
According to the sermon, what worldly criticism did Judas and others use to label Mary’s act as “waste”? [34:03]

Interpretation Questions

Why did Jesus defend Mary’s act as a “good work” (Matthew 26:10) despite the disciples’ objections? How does this redefine what true “usefulness” means in God’s kingdom?
The sermon states, “True usefulness in the kingdom of God is measured by how much we are willing to waste on him.” [35:24] How does this principle challenge cultural ideas about productivity or practicality?
Jesus said Mary’s act would be remembered wherever the gospel is preached. What does this reveal about the relationship between sacrificial worship and gospel witness?

Application Questions

What tangible resource, time, or ability do you possess that feels “costly” to pour out for God? How could surrendering it honor Christ in a way others might misunderstand? [27:09]
When have you hesitated to act on a prompting from God because it seemed “impractical” or “wasteful” by worldly standards? What would it look like to obey anyway? [45:24]
The sermon asks, “Is there an area of your life where you need to pour out on the Lord, even if it seems like a waste?” [51:49] Identify one specific step you could take this week to prioritize God’s pleasure over others’ approval.
How might shifting your motivation from “What will I gain?” to “Will this satisfy God?” change your approach to prayer, service, or generosity? [36:15]
What daily habit or routine could you reframe as an act of worship (e.g., time, work, relationships) to intentionally “waste” yourself on Christ?

Sermon Clips

And here's the truth. True usefulness in the kingdom of God is measured by how much we are willing to waste on him. Here's the principle, if you wanna take a principle away. The principle of waste is the principle of power. When we pour out everything on the Lord first, he is satisfied. See, isn't that really the goal? Shouldn't that isn't that the actual question we should be asking about our lives? Is he satisfied? [00:35:47] (31 seconds) #WasteIsPower

The preaching of the gospel is not about you. Sadly, in our culture, we've actually made the gospel about the person receiving it, not about the person who purchased it for us. Think about it. So often, how's the gospel presented? You need to get saved because it's all about you. You don't wanna go to hell, do you? You wanna have a better life, don't you? It's not about you. It's about him. [00:29:25] (28 seconds) #GospelForGod

And, yes, while we are the object of his love, what does the gospel produce? Well, the modern gospel often produces a worship of self. That's why church becomes just a place so you feel better about you. Church becomes a place where you are entertained. Church becomes a place where you receive something. Church becomes a place where you receive some sort of religious servicing. Alright. Like an oil change. I just need my religious oil change this week. Amen? [00:30:31] (30 seconds) #ChurchNotEntertainment

If I am if I am busy ensuring that God is satisfied, that God that my devotion to God is brings brings him pleasure, that that his face shines upon me, that he looks at me and and and and sees all that I'm, you know, all that I am in Jesus Christ, and and and I'm my life poured out on him. That's that's the path to satisfaction, by the way. You say, well, I don't have much to pour out. Pour it out anyway. Do what you can. [00:38:00] (28 seconds) #DevotionBringsSatisfaction

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