A Study on Love: Part XLVII

Luke 7:36-38, 44-47
Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."

-Now, this is an awesome story in the Bible. In fact, it is one of my most favorite stories in the Bible. This story shows the love I should have for God. It shows that I should be down on my hands and knees, doing everything I have within my being, serving my Lord. This woman broke a jar of perfume worth a years wages. A YEARS WAGES. Let's put that into perspective:

• A Farm Manager Made in 2002: $43,740
• Scott Kazmir (Tampa Bay Rays) in 2008: $3,785,000
• Melky Cabrera (NY Yankees) in 2008: $461,200
• Josh Hamilton (Texas Rangers) in 2008: $396,830
• Michael Young (Texas Rangers) in 2008: $6,174,974
• Average Teacher Salary (Texas) in 2008-09: $38,857
• Brandon Bass (Dallas Mavericks) in 2009: $826,269
• Mike Modano (Dallas Stars) in 2009: $4,250,000
• DeMarcus Ware (Dallas Cowboys) in 2008: $2,121,240
• Minimum Wage at 40 Hour Weeks (Year): $13,624

In case you are not aware of what this bottle of perfume was worth in those times compared to today's time, the alabaster bottle and perfume totalled to roughly $300 dollars. In Russia, an average salary per year is roughly $545 dollars. So... would you break the bottle and pour a years worth of wages at your Lord's feet? Would you do it? Let's say you're Scott Kazmir, would you pour over 3 million dollars of anything on your Lord's feet? And if not, why not? Keep in mind that Judas was there disputing the act. I mean, this is a years worth of money being poured out with no way to get any physical return on what you are doing. I would have to say that I would have a hard time doing it. I agree with Jesus in saying that it is a beautiful thing. I just don't know if my faith would be there, to do something as wonderful as what she did.

Giving is an expression of love. Sacrificing is an expression of love. This woman did both. She gave up a year's worth of wages, sacrificed what she had and gave it to Christ. Johnny Out.