Then the lay reader, soon to be ordained deacon, preached a long, but very good sermon on offering our talents to God, like how Mary, Martha and Lazarus’s sister broke the jar of expensive perfumed ointment and washed Jesus’ feet, then dried it with her hair. ‘Then took Mary a pound of ointment (oil) of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour (fragrance) of the ointment.’ feet, pulling teeth
Jesus didn’t have to ask her, she just did it because of her great LOVE for Him! (John 12:3) The washing of Jesus’ feet also showed her humility. That got the deacon to wondering how many of us supposed believers are willing to wash someone else’s feet eh? Not too many, cause we too proud and nice and vain and full of we self! And remember, in Jesus’ time the washing of feet was a slave’s job! And yuh see how Jesus also washed His disciples’ feet? (John 13:1-11) Well let’s contemplate for a moment or two, if we that humble nuh! (smile)
And then there was communion, with quite a bit of people in church this morning. There were also a lot of announcements, including the raising of funds to repair the church floor because the tiles raising up as water from some ground source invading them. But which church ain’t begging for funds nowadays eh? Hn!
It’s sad, but God’s work has now become a beggarly situation! In the early times the believers gave generously of their possessions, but today, mih brother, it come like pulling teeth without anesthetic to get God’s people to give generously to His work! We quick to give to the world, but where God is concerned it’s an entirely different kettle of fish, where we always wondering where the two pennies we done give already going, and how come they always needing more.
But friends, the truth is that we suppose to put God first, because He’s put us first through His unconditional LOVE for us, His sending of Jesus to die and pay for our sins, as well as making us His adopted children and heirs to His kingdom! And besides, He is the one who gives you the power to get wealth in the first place. (Deut.8:18) And all things belong to Him, we are only stewards looking after His business.
Now what is all of that worth to you eh? I think that will show up in the generosity of your time, talents and wealth to Christ’s work! And remember, is not me, or some earthly minister you have to answer to eh, but the Lord God Almighty Himself! When He asks you, come that big day, what you did with all the talents He imbued you with? (Matt.25:14-30) For your sake, I hope you have a good answer, and you don’t tell Him, like the foolish and lazy fella who only had one talent, that you went and buried it and didn’t make proper use of it for His master’s cause.
And here is where the service got real interesting. It was noted to the congregation that someone had stolen the speakers of the church…for the second time in a short while too! Glory be! And it seems like it was a church goer. But not only that, there was some paint and varnish being kept to spruce up the physical appearance of the church for Easter, that was also stolen! Mama Yo!
That led the lay reader to compare whoever was doing such dastardly deeds to Judas, Jesus’ betrayer, who had complained: ‘Why was not this ointment (oil) sold for three hundred pence (denarii), and given to the poor. This he said, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the (money)bag and bare (used to take) what was put therein.’ (John 12:5-6)
Jesus didn’t make a fuss because He knew that Judas had a major role to play in His upcoming proceedings. He simply said: ‘Let her alone: against (for) the day of my burying hath she kept this. For the poor always ye have with you, but me ye have not always.’ (John 12:7-8) And that was quite true at the time. But after Jesus set the world on fire with His death, resurrection and ascension things changed somewhat; we still have plenty poor, but we now also have Him for all time through the presence of His Holy Spirit that indwells us!
Glory to God my people! What a big difference that has made in our lives! And when church was finally over, we had to stay and fellowship some, and buy breakfast; saltfish and bake and then I had to go down the road to get gas. And yes, I forgot to check out the quote on the board down there. (smile) Then I had to drop home a friend from church, and on the way home we stopped by my Aunty Cicely, who lives in the same area. So with all of that, I never got home until after eleven.
Then the duchess wanted to go up to the Magdalena Hotel for brunch, which took place around twelve. And by the time we got back, around one thirty, with the good food, the blazing hot sun and the Magdalena Rum Punch I had imbibed, I had to rest, and the rest just took longer than I expected. That’s my story…and I’m sticking to it! (smile)
And I’ll leave us with these immortal words of Jesus, after He washed the disciples feet. ‘For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.’ (John 13:15) Yes friends, please let’s be wise and go out and follow Jesus’ example nuh! Much LOVE!
…the best example to follow…the best mentor…the best person to look up to…JESUS…!
P.S. I know we didn’t sing any songs of praise today, but we just didn’t have time…and I didn’t have anything ready to sing anyway. (smile) Much LOVE!
SCRIP-BITS 