How meaningful are good intentions, and what’s the eternal value of our good intentions? Sometimes, we console ourselves by thinking: “Oh well, at least I had it in my heart. The Lord knows I did!”  Maybe we derive too much comfort from such reasoning – far too much! If we knew it would be a good thing to do and failed to do it because of some other priority in our own life, then we have actually sinned. How can there be a positive reward for that?

Consider these scenarios and speculate on their spiritual legitimacy in eternity before Christ:

• “I would have helped pass out invitations to the Community Gospel Supper, but I wanted to meet up with some of my friends.”
• “I wanted to obey the Lord by getting baptized, but I was just too swamped with my courses to even focus on spiritual things.”..
• “I wanted to come into the fellowship of the local assembly this year, but it seems my commitment to the team is causing me to be absent too often, so I better wait.”
• “I wanted to tell her I was saved, but I could never find the right time to introduce her to Christ in our chats. I never thought I’d be attending her funeral this week. How can I live with the regret?”
• “I believe in being a devoted Christian too, but going to the Bible studies and prayer meetings through the week and spending some holiday weekends at Bible conferences is just too extreme for me. I don’t know how some people do it!”

You may not get the connection initially between ‘seizing the opportunity’ and the Bible story you are about to read but follow it through to the end.

Two thousand years ago in Bethany, there was quite a scene. Did it go something like this?

“Well, I’m appalled! Why in the world did she waste that precious ointment?!! I was shocked when she broke open the flask and dumped it on His head. There are other ways to express one’s appreciation for the Master without wasting precious nard.” 

Someone else joins the whisper campaign: “If Mary wanted to get rid of her ointment, why didn’t she give it to us? We could have taken it down to the market and converted it into cash – 300 pence for the poor.” The chorus of criticism grew. “She annoys me greatly. You don’t have to be the sharpest pencil in the drawer to figure out her self-serving motives. She always wants to steal the show. But what troubles me the most is the excessive waste! It’s almost criminal when poor people are starving to death.”

The Lord Jesus breaks the momentum of the negative chatter and tells them to back off. “Leave Mary alone. She has done something of infinite good and great value to Me.” And then, He addresses their supposed concern over the poor. Listen carefully to His words and think about seizing opportunities.

Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could.”   Mark 14:6-8

They failed to understand that time was running out to show Him how much they loved Him. The window of opportunity to express their devotion to Him would soon close. He was leaving them. He was going to the Cross.

Mary seized the opportunity to express her devotion to Him. She did what she could when she could. He told them they’d always have opportunities to do other good things – but not to miss the present opportunity to do something for Himself.

Better to do it today than to be disappointed tomorrow over an opportunity forever missed.

Don’t hesitate to share a thought from your personal experience or a verse that has been a blessing to you –  in the comment section below. Or, if you would like to reach out privately, click below.