Do What You Can, While You Can

Notes: Do What You Can, While You Can

Matthew 26

Pastor Greg Laurie

SERIES: God Came Near

Wednesday, July 8, 2015 — 8:00 a.m.

How many of you have ever wasted your time? Maybe you are wasting time on your phone.

70% of the world has smart phones; 5.3 Billion people have a smart phone.

Maybe you waste time with your TV.

Worse than wasting your time is wasting your life.

The woman in Matthew 26 was accused of waste, yet she was doing the exact opposite. Good in this world may be seen completely differently in Heaven.

What do you want more in life, the approval of God or the applause of men?

Proverbs 29:25 NKJV The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.

Matthew 26: 6-13

6And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, 7a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. 8But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.”

10But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. 11For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. 12For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. 13Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

As Jesus said, 2000 years later we are telling this woman’s story.

At this time it was Passover time, there would be all kinds of people around them in Jerusalem now. People who love Jesus and hate Him. A resurrected Lazarus, would have been there also.

Every time we read of Mary she is at the feet of Jesus.

If we sit at His feet maybe we would be bringing more people to Him.

It is revealed to Mary that Jesus is going to die. She decided right then and there that she wants to do something for Jesus.

Matthew 26:13Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

The great thing Mary did, was she did what she could, while she could.

What is the most precious thing to you in this world? Family, appearance, career? Have you presented it to Jesus?

The value of a gift is not how much it cost, but how much it cost you.

In today’s economy, the gift Mary gave Jesus would have cost between $25k to $30k.

Most people look at how little can we give and still be a Christian. Mary gave her most valuable possession.

Tithing is not the standard it is the entry level.

Tithing is a form of worship.

Acts 4:13 NKJV Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.

We should live with a sense that nothing is too good for Jesus.

When is the last time you did something bold for the kingdom of God?

Jesus never said He was going to establish an earthly kingdom.

Mary decided to bring her flowers now. Is there someone that you should be bringing your flowers to right now?

Church should be like filling up gas for your car, filling up with the Spirit and heading out to the world.

The Lord’s work should be a joy, not a burden.

Luke 17:10 NKJV So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’”

What Mary did was not waste.

Matthew 26: 8But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste?

Judas said this because he was a thief, not because he cared about anyone else.

Judas means, “the son of waste”, Judas threw it all away for some coins.

We are not to judge MOTIVES but to judge actions of one another.

Be a part of the solution, not a part of the problem.

Judas, on the surface, looked very spiritual and Mary looks wasteful. The opposite is the truth, though.

Nothing is ever wasted when it is done with the right motive for the glory of God.

What may looks like waste to some, like our Christian lives, can be compared at the end and see which life was wasted.

What we do in this life is past on to our future generations. It would be nice to look back on life and having the only regret of not having done more.

 The choices we make in this life will impact us and generations to come.

1 Corinthians 3:11 NKJV For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

You should care what crowns you are getting in Heaven. Getting to Heaven should not be your only goal.

We need to do what we can while we can.

A person’s actions form an infallible index to his character.

We all need to give what we can. God gave His only Son for us.

Are you sure Jesus Christ is living in you? It will give you purpose and inner peace and so many other fruits.