Loyalty makes a good cowboy and a better friend.”
                    –David Fitz-Gerald  (First Drive)

       “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
                    –Romans 14:17(NKJV)
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Several weeks ago I wrote about the anointing of Jesus that took place at the dinner at Simon’s house.  This morning I want to again look at that feast and look at those who sat at the table with Jesus.  We see, of course, Simon who was most likely healed by Jesus.  There was Mary, the thoughtful, contemplative sister and the cheerful, active, and busy Martha.  Whatever their faults they had a deep devotion to Jesus.  They rested their faith and hopes in Him.  Lazarus sat with Jesus, the man who had tasted death and was imprisoned by the tomb until the words of Jesus put life back into him.  For some reason, this miracle enraged the Pharisees and especially the Saduccees.  Also there were a number of unnamed guests who were there to see the risen Lazarus and the miracle-worker, Jesus.
     Sitting at the table were the disciples; those closest to Him as others had left Him.  This dinner took place six days before the Passover–six days before the betrayal and crucifixion of Jesus.  Jesus was at Bethany–a rest before the coming mighty battle.  There came a woman to anoint Him.  John says it was Mary, whether Martha’s sister or someone else is not the point of this discussion, but that Jesus was anointed.  He recognized the significance of it.
     That brings us to another person at the table, the son of perdition, Judas Iscariot.  He was one of the twelve disciples still following Jesus.  Several disciples were indignant when the expensive spikenard was broken open and Jesus was anointed.  But it seems that Judas became the spokesman for the others who may have been upset.  Judas–never truly devout to the mission of Jesus.  Judas–who wanted a kingdom on earth, and perhaps may have been trying to manipulate Jesus, who would not waver in His commitment to His Father and to mankind.  Judas–who never set his affections on things above.
     With this anointing we get a true glimpse of Judas.  It was a sweet, loving, and devoted gesture by Mary; it hushed the guests, that is, all but Judas who spoke out against it.  He rejected the expense of the waste, and with that he rejected the coming crucifixion.  F.M. Krummacher states, “Never, probably has frigid self-love stood in such horrible contrast with warm and sacred affection.”  Why this waste? proclaimed Judas.  Then showing his hypocritical life and materialistic nature, he said that it could have been sold to feed the poor.  John records the depth of Judas’ soul however, “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.” (12:6, NKJV)  Judas knew the value of the spikenard, but not the value of the love that provided it.  
     Did Judas not remember the words of Jesus, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”? (Matthew 6:21, NKJV)  I’m sure Jesus cast a dour look at Judas’ outburst.  It was right after this dinner and anointing that the heart of Judas began to be exposed.  Judas–the manipulator; Judas–the thief; Judas–the soon betrayer will break away from the other disciples and meet with the chief priests.  “Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?’  And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver.  So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.” (Matthew 26:14-16, NKJV)
     What a sad, deplorable choice.  A seemingly devout follower of Jesus has willingly sold his soul to the devil.  We should ask, “why this waste?”  A wasted life.  Instead of having his name recorded in the annals of history as a great disciple, he is known as the “great deceiver.”  Dante, in his “Inferno” has Judas and Brutus as the very lowest level in the pit of hell–the betrayers.  But how many others have not taken the opportunity to follow Jesus?  How many others could the same be said–“why this waste?”

It’s bred into him to want to work. He ain’t like a lot of people, lookin’ for a cool shade and a soft chair.”
                    –Elmer Kelton  (The Man Who Rode Midnight)

       “For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule:  ‘If a man will not work, he shall not eat.'”
                    –2 Thessalonians 3:10 (NIV)
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“You sluggard,” is the emphasis of Proverbs 6:6-11.  Laziness in mind and body are warned against in these few verses.  We must also note that in reality a person can be a spiritual bum as well.

          6 — Go to the ant, you sluggard!  Consider her ways and be wise,
          7 — Which, having no captain, overseer or ruler,
          8 — Provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.
          9 — How long will you slumber, O sluggard?  When will you rise from your sleep?
        10 — A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep–
        11 — So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, and your need like an armed man.  (NKJV)

The sluggard or lazy person is held captive to leisure, which at times takes away from dutiful work.  The first verse, look at the ant.  Bob Beasley writes, “It’s a shame that people made in the image of God need to observe tiny creatures for instruction in righteousness.  These little ants have no commander to direct their work, no overseer to inspect their work, and no ruler to call them into account.  Yet they do their work diligently and in proper order.”
     We must be busy, we must work while it is light, while there is time.  We should consider our ways, how we use our time.  What is it you do with your spare time?  How much of your time is actually wasted in foolishness, idleness, and sleep?  One day, there will be a time when there is no longer time for preparation.  We have been given talents, gifts, blessings, intellect along with time, and we are to be good stewards of those things.  We must do our own work for that is what we are responsible for.  “Each man must do his own work in the world, each one has responsibilities of his own which will not admit of being discharged by proxy.” (J.L. Fores)  Do what you can, when you can, while you can!
     The sin of the sluggard is to abuse the blessing of sleep.  Sleep is to rejuvenate, to refreshen.  “Rest is the reward of labor and not to be substituted for it.” (Flores)  So many loathe, gather welfare that is unwarranted, and their bodies, minds, and spirit begin to atrophy and waste away.  Charles Bridges warns against “Sleeping away the opportunities of grace.”  Without work and with too much sleep the soul goes into poverty and destitution.
     Andrew Fausset said, “Our whole present life is the time for action; the future for retribution.”  What happens if you don’t work?  Paul says you should not eat.  Another way of saying this is that you deserve the wages you earn.  If you don’t earn any, you do not deserve any.  Idleness will bring destruction; spiritual idleness will do the same.  Lord Chesterfield said that “indolence is a sort of suicide, for the man is effectually destroyed.”  
     Stay awake, stay alert, work hard at work worth doing, be excellent in your work, not a sloth.  Ponder this a moment, how long does it take to end up in a ditch when driving?  A blink of an eye, a little folding of the hands, a lapse in alertness.  When I read these verses I think of the parable of Jesus in which the talents were given to the servants.  We are to be good stewards of our time and that includes our sleep, and other leisure enjoyments.  “Moral alertness is as important to our spiritual lives as physical alertness is to make sure we are safe.” (Dick)
     Before we leave, read verse 9 one more time.  How long will you…?  Sleep is needed.  We spend more than a third of our life in sleep.  Think of that!  One-third!  I have written many times that I promised myself that I would not miss the splendor of the sunrise again.  Even if I do not see the sun, I will be up ready for the day that the Lord has given me.  Dan Dick brings up this point, “So many people walk through their entire lives as if they were asleep.  They miss the wonder and glory of the world around them, and they are not even aware that they are missing anything at all.”  Walk through this life responsibly.  Consider the opportunities that are around you, both in the natural world and in the spiritual.  Do not be a sluggard!  There is too much in life.

That was music,… the wind in the pines, and the flutter of cottonwood or aspen along with the sound of snow water trickling and the bugle of an elk or the call of a wolf. Yet it was music of a very special kind.”
                    –Louis L’Amour  (Bendigo Shafter)

       “Come, let’s talk this over, says the Lord; no matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can take it out and make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you white as wool!”