DON’T BE A WASTE THIS LENT
INTRODUCTION: ASHES AND ALABASTER
Church, here we are.
Lent is here.
On Ash Wednesday we will hear the words:
Genesis 3:19
New King James Version
19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread
Till you return to the ground,
For out of it you were taken;
For dust you are,
And to dust you shall return.”
That is not morbid.
That is clarifying.
It reminds us that this life is brief.
It reminds us that what we pour ourselves into matters.
It reminds us that one day we will stand before the King.
And the question will not be:
How comfortable were you?
How entertained were you?
How admired were you?
The question will be:
What did you do with your life?
Today I want to ask you something uncomfortable:
What are you wasting your life on?
Because in Mark chapter 14, we meet a woman accused of waste.
And she becomes the model for what Lent is truly about.
I. THE ALABASTER BOX – MARK 14:3
Turn with me to Mark 14.
Mark 14:3
New King James Version
The Anointing at Bethany
3 And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly [a]oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head.
Mary of Bethany.
Her family was not wealthy.
But she possessed an alabaster box filled with spikenard valued at 300 denarii — roughly a year’s wages.
This was not spare change.
This was her security.
Her future.
Her inheritance.
And she broke it.
She didn’t drizzle it.
She didn’t measure it.
She broke it.
And the fragrance filled the house.
II. “WHAT A WASTE!”
Immediately the criticism began.
Mark 14:4
New King James Version
4 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted?
Waste.
What does waste mean?
• Giving too much.
• Giving more than seems reasonable.
• Giving something valuable for something others deem not worth it.
Let’s look at it from two angles.
III. JUDAS – THE WORLD’S MINDSET
John gives us deeper insight.
John 12:4-6
New King James Version
4 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, 5 “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for [a]three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.
Judas represents the world’s logic.
The world says:
• Be practical.
• Be efficient.
• Don’t overdo religion.
• Don’t give your whole life to Jesus.
The world says:
“Why waste your Sunday mornings?”
“Why tithe?”
“Why fast?”
“Why give up comfort?”
To the world, devotion looks foolish.
To the world, living fully for Christ is a waste.
But listen carefully:
WHEN YOUR EYES HAVE BEEN OPENED TO THE REAL WORTH OF THE LORD — NOTHING IS TOO GOOD FOR HIM.
IV. EVEN THE DISCIPLES DIDN’T UNDERSTAND
But here’s the sobering part.
It wasn’t just Judas.
Matthew 26:8
New King James Version
8 But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste?
Even those closest to Jesus didn’t understand extravagant love.
And here is where Lent confronts us.
Even among Christians today, there is a subtle spirit that says:
“How little can I give and still be blessed?”
“How little can I surrender and still go to heaven?”
We want maximum return with minimum sacrifice.
But hear me:
The Lord is not first after your usefulness.
He is after your heart.
He is after your surrender.
He is after your broken alabaster box.
V. WHAT JESUS DEFENDED
Look at what Jesus said:
Mark 14:6
New King James Version
6 But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me.
Notice this:
He did not say she did a useful work.
He said she did a good work for Me.
This was not about productivity.
This was about devotion.
She ministered to Him.
Church, Lent is not about checking spiritual boxes.
It is about ministering to the Lord.
VI. LOVE IS THE MEASURE – 1 CORINTHIANS 13
Our Epistle lesson reminds us:
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
New King James Version
The Greatest Gift
13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body [a]to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
You can fast.
You can tithe.
You can serve.
You can sacrifice.
But without love, it is noise.
Mary’s action was pure love.
Paul describes that love:
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
New King James Version
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not [a]puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, [b]thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
Lent is a season where we confront what keeps us from loving like that.
And what is the chief obstacle?
Self.
VII. CRUCIFYING SELF – MARK 8
Jesus said:
Mark 8:34
New King James Version
Take Up the Cross and Follow Him
34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
Lent is about denying self.
Not because God is angry.
Not to earn salvation.
But because self keeps climbing back on the throne.
From Adam and Eve until today, humanity has one central problem:
Self sits where Christ belongs.
Mary dethroned self.
She broke the box.
She poured out everything.
VIII. TOO LATE AT THE TOMB
The women came later to anoint Jesus.
But He was already risen.
Only Mary anointed Him before His death.
You cannot wait forever to surrender.
You cannot say, “One day I’ll get serious.”
One day may not come.
Mark 14:8
New King James Version
8 She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial.
She did what she could.
That is all God asks.
All you can do.
But He will not accept less than that.
IX. THE FRAGRANCE
When she broke the box, the fragrance filled the house.
And Jesus said:
Mark 14:9
New King James Version
9 Assuredly, 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.”
That fragrance still fills the Church.
You can smell it on saints who have poured themselves out.
You’ve met them.
They’re not flashy.
They’re not self-promoting.
But there is an aroma around them.
The fragrance of surrender.
X. WHAT ARE YOU WASTING YOUR LIFE ON?
Missionary Nate Saint once said:
“People who do not know the Lord ask why we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget they too are expending their lives…”
Everyone wastes their life on something.
The only question is: will it matter eternally?
Jesus said:
Mark 8:36
New King James Version
36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
XI. PRACTICAL LENT
So what does this mean practically?
Lent offers us holy discipline:
• Fast from food and give to the poor.
• Fast from comfort and serve someone.
• Fast from pride and practice humility.
• Fast from entertainment and pursue prayer.
But expect resistance.
The moment you fast spiritually, distractions multiply.
That’s not coincidence.
Press through.
Run the race.
Paul said he disciplined his body so he would not be disqualified.
Not because God is angry —
But because love requires surrender.
XII. THE FINAL QUESTION
Church, where are we today?
Are we after usefulness?
Or intimacy?
Are we after blessings?
Or the Lord Himself?
Mary wasn’t trying to impress anyone.
She was bent on pouring herself out on the One who loved her.
And here is the truth:
We love Him because He first loved us.
He poured Himself out first.
The Cross was not efficient.
It was extravagant.
The blood of Jesus was not measured.
It was poured.
CONCLUSION: DON’T BE A WASTE THIS LENT
This Wednesday ashes will mark our foreheads.
Dust.
Temporary.
Fragile.
But what we pour out for Jesus will never be forgotten.
Don’t waste Lent.
Don’t waste your life on comfort.
Break the box.
Pour it out.
Anoint Him now — not with oil —
But with your love.
Your time.
Your obedience.
Your life.
If you live your life for Jesus and the Gospel —
You will never regret it.
The fragrance will follow you into eternity.
Amen.
