William Brassey Hole, early 1900s
(Wikimedia Commons public domain)
Compare Luke 7:36-50; John 12:1-8
Life — and our obligations under the Gospel — present us with competing values.
Every cent could be spent on alleviating poverty, but that would leave nothing over for supporting the arts, building temples, funding missionary work, beautifying our lives, taking music lessons, attending concerts, and a host of other worthwhile and indeed excellent things. The world would be impoverished.
Love is a vitally important principle. But so is justice. So are standards. So is truth.
Mercy cannot rob justice. Kindness should not prevent us from speaking truth. And yet, sometimes, the truth shouldn’t be spoken, out of kindness.
Decisions are required at every turn. Balance should be sought. Banging on one key of the piano will never produce a great piece of music.
The complaint mentioned in these passages, that the money spent on ointment could have gone to the poor, was absolutely true. And yet Jesus, who cared deeply about the poor, didn’t endorse the complaint.
Life isn’t simple. We shouldn’t be simplistic.
And if a proposition can fit entirely on a bumper sticker, it’s very possibly much too simple to be a good rule for decisions.
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