OUR BEST

MARK 14:3-9

The incident recorded in Mark 14 is a very touching one. Simon had prepared a feast in his house out of gratitude to the Savior for the blessings he had received. Jesus, His disciples, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were all there. Quite suddenly Mary moved towards the Lord. She held in her hands a beautiful alabaster box that contained very precious, delicately perfumed ointment. To the surprise of everyone there, she broke the box and poured its contents over the head and feet of our Lord and anointed Him (Mk. 14:3 -1 John 12:3). The alabaster box and the ointment were worth a considerable amount of money. Now what did Mary's act signify? It signified that she was giving her very best to the Lord Jesus. As she broke the alabaster box and poured out that precious liquid, she was saying in effect, "Take my love, my Lord, I pour; at Thy feet its treasure store. Take myself, and I will be ever, only all for thee." In those days every young woman would prepare a box of precious perfume. This she would keep until the time came when the man she loved would ask her to marry him. If she were willing and could give him her total love and devotion, she would break the box of ointment and pour it at his feet ... no matter what she paid for the box. It was counted as her best and this is what she gave to him. That is what Mary did with her Lord; the one who loved her so much that soon He would die on the cross. Therefore, she gave her very best, her all, to Him.

I. What can we give to the Lord Jesus?

1. We can give him the "best of our love."
This is what Mary did. Although the ointment was costly and the box was of great value, the real gift she brought to Him was that of her love. We can all give Him our love, and this is what He desires above everything else. Have you given Him the best of your love? (Matthew 10:37; John 21:15-17)

2. We can give Him the "best of our years."
What a privilege it is for anyone to give to the Lord his or her whole life in all its freshness of youth. Is He not worthy of our best? The best of our strength, our manhood, or womanhood. It is possible to know that we belong to the Lord and yet keep the best of our strength, our time, and our gifts for ourselves instead of giving them to Him.

3 . We can give Him the "best of our talents."
Everyone has some talent. What is yours? Whatever it is, the Lord wants to use it. If you will only place it at His feet and yield it completely to Him, He will use it. Have you ever read the Consecration Hyman by Frances Ripley Havergal and really given over your moments, days, hands, feet, voice, lips, silver, gold, intellect, and will?

II. Why Should We Give Our Best to the Lord?

1. Because He is Worthy of our best.
Who is He? He's the eternal Son of God (Jn 1: 1). He's the Lord of glory (I Cor 2:8). He's the Savior of men (I Tim 1: 15). Is He not worthy of the very best we can give to Him? Worthy of our all?

2. Because He has given His best for us.
He shed His precious blood for us that we might be redeemed (I Peter 1: 1 8, 19). It was when Mary realized all that her Lord had given and would give for her that she was constrained to give her best, her all to Him. In Mark 14:8, we learn that it was Calvary that constrained her.

3. Only by giving Him our best can we enjoy His best.
This moment of dedication was the happiest moment of Mary's life, and from now on, she would know deep joy (Jn 15: 1 1) and abiding peace (Jn 16:3 3) because she had given her best, her all to the Lord. If we give Him little, we will only have the capacity to enjoy a little of Him. But if we give Him our very best, He will become unspeakably precious to us. (I Peter 2:7).

III. What is the Result of Giving Our Best to the Lord?

1. Some people will object.
There was murmuring, criticism, indignation, and misunderstanding (John 12:5). Judas was very quick to speak as to Mary's waste and this is often how the world assesses the dedication of a Christian's life. (Mt 26:8).

2. The Lord will be pleased.
The greatest thing in the world is to have His commendation. Does it matter what the world thinks so long as He is pleased with us?

3 . Others will be helped.
What a wonderful result of Mary's simple act of devotion and dedication. Who can estimate the far-reaching influence of one life that is wholly given over to the Lord. Is your life wholly surrendered?