Matthew 26:6-7 (NIV) While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.

The account of this woman in the passage of Scripture above does nothing short of putting every modern-day “Christian” to shame. It was so significant, in fact, that Jesus said “wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her” (v. 13). A rough estimation of an alabaster jar of expensive perfume in those times was about a year’s wages or even more (see the same account in Mark 14:3-5). The perfume, including the jar that contained it, was essentially priceless… and yet here comes its owner, carrying it to the Lord to break it and pour it on His head.

This single moment puts most Christians to shame because here this woman stood, not just to give some small gift or perform a nice gesture for Jesus, but to pour out before Him the most precious possession she owned. She not only poured it, but she “broke” it (Mark 14:3), scorning its value and worth in order to pour it upon the one who was now worth everything to her.

What about you? Can you say that Jesus is your everything? Can you honestly, before God, look at all you have (family, money, friends, job, car, house, possessions, life, etc.) and say that He is worth more to you than all of it? Most of us would answer this with a resounding “Yes!”, but I believe that if we were really honest, we wouldn’t place our Lord so high up on our list of loves and priorities.

Does it have to stay this way? Do we just hear this and go on our merry way with God’s place in our hearts declining with each passing day? Absolutely not! Each and every one of us possess an “alabaster jar” of some kind. Perhaps it’s a relationship, your spouse, your kids, or your dreams of your future here on earth. The list goes on. The question is, would you be willing to give all of it up just so you could have Him? To be sure, God will never tell you to abandon your wife and children, but He will absolutely challenge where they sit in the positions of your heart. Jesus said, “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:37). He must have first place for there to be any meaningful and lasting change in your heart for the Kingdom of God and the Gospel.

The woman in the story above gave up the most precious thing she had. Shde broke it, and poured it upon Jesus as an offering. Are you willing to do that today? Ask God to help you take what is most precious to you and to lay it upon Him as an offering. When you are truly able to let go of everything, your arms and your heart will be empty and ready to receive all that He is and has for you. You will find that whatever you give up will not compare to what and Who you’ll gain in return! Bring your “alabaster jar” to Jesus today and bless His heart just like this woman did by pouring out on Him what is most precious to you, in order to gain and receive all that He is. Amen!

Tim Vazquez