There has been a belief among most Christians for well over a thousand years that life is divided into two parts: the “spiritual” and the “secular” and the goal of life is to focus more on “spiritual” activities such as praying, serving, and feeding the poor, reading the Bible, etc. and less on “secular” pursuits such as a job, chores, eating, etc.

Would it surprise you to learn Jesus did not view life this way?

Mark’s account of Jesus’ anointing at Bethany makes this plain to us.

He informs us that while Jesus was sharing a meal with His disciples and friends, a woman approached Jesus with a “vial of costly perfume.” We are told it was worth a year’s wages – think how much you earn in a year – and she just breaks it open and “pours it over His head!”

The disciples – particularly Judas – are incredibly offended by the woman’s action and grumble that she has wasted money that would have been better spent on the poor.

Jesus will have none of it and He sternly rebukes them for their false piety, explaining that her action points to His impending death and burial.

I like to call the woman’s action “wasteful spirituality!”

It was a “wasteful” act of love and devotion that focused itself completely on Jesus. This woman knew there would always be opportunities for her to assist the poor but at that very moment, here was her one opportunity to show Jesus extravagant, generous, love.

The “spiritual” would have her believe she was “worldly” or “secular” for wasting her money like this, but Jesus explains that what she has done will forever point people to the Good News of salvation in Him.

Think about this. John says the smell of the perfume “filled the whole house.” For the rest of the week – during the Last Supper, His trial, His crucifixion – the fragrance of the perfume followed Jesus everywhere He went, a reminder of the woman’s complete love and devotion to Him.

There is no divide between the spiritual and the secular – whatever is done in Jesus’ Name, is never wasted.

Today’s Bible reading: Mark 14:1-9