Extravagant Devotion

Main Idea: Our love for God is demonstrated by our extravagant devotion.

Life Application: Costly love demonstrates our love for God.

INTRODUCTION

How logical is love? Why can two people have no problem sharing an ice cream cone or sitting in a space designed for one? What causes them to pucker their lips and exchange a passionate kiss without fear of infection or disease? Such a careless action defies a sterile environment and ignores the six feet barrier that is supposed to keep humanity from extinction. Love causes normal human beings to operate irrationally. Matters like hygiene or practicality seem insignificant to starry-eyed folks in love!

However, love does not always create feelings of warmth and acceptance. Older and mature individuals criticize younger people for their expectations. What can they be thinking? Don’t they have a practical bone in their bodies? Too often, those who criticize forget how they behaved when they were first in love. Spontaneity has been replaced with calculated devotion. While some of this happens with time, much can be said for keeping affection alive throughout the years shared by two people. To do so requires intentional effort by both individuals.

In a spiritual sense, extravagant devotion to God need not fade when our bodies lose their youthful luster. While the world worships youth and beauty, God desires our allegiance, whether our bodies are young and vibrant or old and wrinkled. To love God without reserve is our privilege. Sometimes, our love needs to overflow without any explanation.

SCRIPTURE: John 12:1-8 (NIV)

Transition Statement: Extravagant devotion demonstrates a genuine love for God.

1) Extravagant devotion may be risky. Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor.

Although Jesus had successfully ministered for three years, his time on earth was coming to an end. After he raised Lazarus, the chief priests and Pharisees realized they had to do something to control him. Their recourse was to declare Jesus an enemy of the Jewish religion. They also ordered anyone who knew where Jesus was to report his location to them so they could arrest him. Yet, a group of people, including Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, defied the authorities and threw a feast to honor Jesus. They knew there would be consequences, but their devotion exceeded their fears. Perhaps, none of the group other than Jesus realized the difficult week before them.

Since God has ordained rulers and laws, we are bound to follow them unless they defy biblical values. When rulers enact laws that depart from the Word of God, we are duty-bound to obey God even when it is risky. The events of the last two years have tested us. While we do not want anyone to get sick, we must also be vigilant in obedience to the Scriptures. How much are we willing to risk for the sake of the gospel? How extravagant is our devotion to God when it is dangerous to obey his commandments?

2) Extravagant devotion will be costly. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair.

If we believe in someone or something, we are willing to invest our time and money. Extravagant love does not consider any sacrifice too great or any price too high. When King David approached the threshing floor of Araunah to build an altar to Jehovah, he declined Araunah’s offer to give it to him along with oxen and wood for a sacrifice. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing (2 Samuel 24:24). Extravagant love is not cheap but costly. The affection Mary had for Jesus overshadowed everything else in her life. Even her expensive jar of nard, worth a year’s wages, paled in comparison with her devotion to her Lord. Perhaps, these eleven ounces of expensive perfume represented her entire savings account. She counted the cost and decided her love for Jesus was more valuable than her security blanket.

Extravagant devotion knows nothing about inexpensive love. Nor does it concern itself with public opinions. Why did Mary not settle for a Hallmark card and some perfume from Walmart? Her love for Jesus was sincere and genuine. It would not let her give to Jesus what cost her little. How great is your love for Jesus? Are you willing to give up what you consider valuable? Extravagant devotion calls us to offer to Jesus all ourselves, our past, present, and future. It is complete surrender to the plan and purpose God has for us. Costly love is unmistakable—the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

3) Extravagant devotion will appear foolish. Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor?

When we compare the love Mary had for Jesus with the calculated response from Judas, we see a vastly different perspective. For Mary, there was nothing too valuable to give to Jesus. For Judas, there was nothing more valuable than money, not even the life of his master. However, Judas masked his deceit and thievery through an outward expression of compassion. His condemnation of Mary, who showed love for Jesus, revealed his inner lack of dedication. “Self-righteous piety sometimes snuffs out genuine compassion” (Carson). While Judas appeared to follow Jesus, his heart was far away from yielding to the call of Jesus. That night in Bethany, while reclining at the table with Jesus, Judas had no idea how near to eternal night he was. But Judas allowed his thirst for money to separate him from his Lord and drive him to a suicidal grave. Sin takes a person farther and faster than he intends to go.

Calculated love appears plausible; it makes logical sense. Yet it lacks fire and warmth in its deliberate dismissal of those who are extravagant in their devotion. It prides itself on its shrewdness and criticizes undue enthusiasm. “Judas appreciated Jesus for the benefits it brought his way. Mary did more than appreciate Jesus—she loved him. That makes all the difference” (Busic). As the treasurer of the disciples, Judas had significant responsibility. But his lust for money overcame his half-hearted devotion for Jesus. However, the love Mary showed for Jesus earned his word of approval and made her a model of an extravagant devotion. While Jesus always advocated the cause of the poor and marginalized, he praised Mary for giving him what cost her. Opportunities to minister to the dis-enfranchised are numerous; moments for extravagant love are rare.

Transition Statement: An undivided heart is ready to give extravagant devotion to God.

CONCLUSION

While most Christians say they love God supremely, they often demonstrate a lack of dedication. God calls us to make radical choices. Without costly love and extravagant devotion to God, we fall short in our commitment. God asks us to risk our security, give what costs, and be considered foolish in our surrender to him. The world will never understand a consecrated heart. Only in brokenness can we find wholeness and contentment. To know the joy of commitment to God is the privilege of every believer. We love God because he loved us when we were unlovable. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8).

In the natural realm, intimacy requires a level of vulnerability. In the spiritual realm, we must allow ourselves to be vulnerable to the plan and purpose of God. Soon after the meal at Bethany, Jesus went to Calvary to provide you and me a way of salvation. Jesus allowed himself to be vulnerable to the will of his Father even though it was difficult. If we follow Jesus, our lives focus on the cross where our old nature dies with Christ. While this would seem to spell disaster for us, it opens the door to a life overflowing with the peace of God. To give God our entire being is the most valuable gift we can offer. While others seek to find joy and contentment in what this world gives them, let us choose a better way, a path of extravagant devotion, and an eternity with God where our love will increase forever in the presence of the Lord.

Summary Statement: Today I willingly offer God my extravagant devotion no matter the price.

Song: “Broken and Spilled Out”

Prayer: Lord, today we humbly bow our hearts and heads in your presence. We acknowledge our selfishness has caused us to serve with calculated love rather than extravagant devotion. We are tired of our half-heartedness and our self-centeredness. Please help us to let loose of those things we think we must have to find fulfillment. Help us find our worth in you, O Lord. Give us eyes that see beyond this world so we can focus on eternal values. We humbly repent of our lukewarmness and lack of devotion. Kindle your love afresh with our hearts today. We pray for a fresh anointing of your Spirit. Thank you for your sacrifice and your precious blood that was spilled for our redemption. We will always give you all the honor and glory. Amen!

BENEDICTION

May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.