Key Passage: Matthew 26:6-13

Topic: Jesus; Service/Servanthood

But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me." (Matthew 26:10-11, ESV)

No matter what we do, it seems some people are always quick to criticize. You know what it sounds like: You didn't do it their way, you didn't use the money as they wished, you chose to do A instead of B, if you'd had a bit more experience you'd have known it really would work better like this...

Here an unnamed woman came and did a wonderful, sacrificial service for Jesus, giving up her best just to bless Him. And the disciples criticized it as a waste of good stuff.

Jesus quickly corrected them. "She's done a good thing," He says, "and she's done it for me."

Doing good is often misunderstood. Other people don't see or understand your motives. They don't recognize the sacrifices you make. And quite often the ones who say they'd have done it differently aren't doing it at all.

But Jesus always sees your heart. He recognizes and praises your sacrifice. And as long as you're doing it for Him, your heart is in the right place.

Did you notice that Jesus also said, "She's done it while there's still time"? His time was limited. He was about to face betrayal, injustice and death. And this woman, who probably didn't know what was coming, gave so much to bless Him and even prepare Him.

Life is short; you won't have endless opportunities to do good things for Jesus. Now is the time. What will you do?