4-6-25 “A Better Choice and A Better Life”

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“A Better Choice and A Better Life”

I want to start with something funny that I found on the internet: There was a preacher who fell into the ocean and couldn’t swim. A boat came by, and the captain yelled, “Do you need help, sir?” The preacher calmly replied, “No, God will save me.” A little later, another boat came by, and a fisherman asked, “Hey, do you need help?” Again, the preacher replied, “No, God will save me.” Eventually, the preacher drowned and went to heaven. He asked God, “Why didn’t You save me?” God replied, “Fool, I sent you two boats!”
Do you believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior? Yes, you do—that’s why you are here today. But there are many people who do not choose Jesus. Remember, God is not fake; God is real. God is the living God. If we truly believe this, we should make choices with a God-centered mindset.

As I reflect on my life, I sometimes think about the good and bad choices I have made. A few years ago, I had a conversation with my spiritual mentor about making wise choices. She shared three of the best choices she ever made, ones she never regretted:
1. Attending seminary and becoming a Methodist pastor.
2. Adopting her daughter.
3. Marrying her husband.

After hearing her story, I reflected on my own life and asked myself: What choices have I made that I will never regret? The best choice I have ever made is believing in Jesus and dedicating my life to Him. Without Jesus, I would not be here today. Whenever I found myself in a dark place, Jesus was my strength and my rock. He lifted me up. Jesus is my hope and the very reason I live.
What about you? What is the best choice you have made in your life?

As a pastor, one of the most heartbreaking things is seeing people lose their faith and leave the church when they face difficulties. They say they still believe in Jesus and are holding onto their faith, but they stop attending church because of their circumstances. However, the reality is that those who leave rarely return. Knowing how long it takes—if they ever come back—makes my heart ache.

Especially after the pandemic, many people have left the church. Of course, they have their reasons. But there is no excuse to leave Jesus. The better choice—the choice you have made—is to stay connected to the church and to Him.

Life is filled with choices. We make choices every day—what to eat, where to go, how to spend our time. Some choices seem small, while others shape our entire lives. In today’s passage, Mary of Bethany makes a choice that reveals the kind of life God desires for us: a life of devotion, love, and true worship.

The Gospel of John, chapter 12, opens with Jesus at a dinner given in His honor, just days before His crucifixion. Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead, is reclining at the table. Martha is serving, and then there is Mary—who does something extraordinary. She takes a jar of expensive perfume—pure nard, worth nearly a year’s wages—and pours it on Jesus’ feet, wiping them with her hair. This act is extravagant, humble, and deeply personal.

Now, imagine these three people. Each of them chose a path that reflected their devotion to Jesus.
• Lazarus chose to listen to Jesus’ message.
• Mary chose to offer her expensive perfume, preparing for Jesus’ death.
• Martha continued to serve others, working behind the scenes.

You may remember that when they first met Jesus, Mary chose to sit at His feet and listen to His teaching, while Martha busied herself in the kitchen, serving Jesus and His disciples. However, Martha became frustrated and asked Jesus to tell Mary to help her. But Jesus gently replied: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:38-42).

Some misunderstand this passage, thinking that Jesus was saying listening to His message is better than serving others. But that is not the point. The real lesson is that whatever we choose to do for the Lord, we should do it with joy and gratitude, without complaint or criticism.
In today’s scripture, we see how much their relationship with Jesus had grown. They had become His beloved friends, and their home was a place He loved to visit whenever He traveled to Jerusalem. After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, they held a celebration. But what began as a party for Lazarus’ resurrection became a moment to prepare for Jesus’ coming death.

Even in this moment, they each made their own choices: Lazarus chose to listen; Mary chose to pour out her love in worship; Martha chose to serve. And this time, there was no frustration, no complaints—only love, devotion, and gratitude. This is the better choice: choosing a life centered on Jesus, a life of worship.

On the other hand, Judas Iscariot criticizes Mary, arguing that the perfume could have been sold and the money given to the poor. On the surface, his concern seems valid, but John tells us the truth: Judas wasn’t thinking about the poor—he was thinking about himself. He was a thief, stealing from the money bag. His words sounded noble, but his heart was far from Jesus. Judas walked with Jesus but never truly gave his heart to Him. He made a different choice—a life of selfishness, deception, and ultimately, destruction.

Jesus defends Mary: “Leave her alone. She has kept it for the day of my burial. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.” Mary understood something the others missed—Jesus was on His way to the cross. Her act of love was a preparation for His burial. She made the better choice, and Jesus honored it.

Mary’s choice reminds us that the best life is not found in wealth, status, or even good deeds alone—it is found in loving and worshiping Jesus.

• First, choose worship over worry – Like Martha (Luke 10:38-42), we can be distracted by many things. But Jesus reminds us that only one thing is truly needed: sitting at His feet.
• Second, choose devotion over distraction – The world is full of demands, but nothing is more important than knowing Christ.
• Lastly, choose the eternal over the temporary – Mary’s perfume was costly, but she recognized that Jesus was worth far more.
Are we living for what truly lasts?
Mary chose the better path—a life centered on Jesus. Judas chose poorly and lost everything.
What about us? Are we offering Jesus our best, or just what’s left over? Are we worshiping in spirit and truth, or merely going through the motions?

A better choice leads to a better life—the life Jesus came to give us.
Let’s choose worship. Let’s choose devotion. Let’s choose Jesus.
What choice will we make today? Will we pour out our best for Jesus, or will we hold back?
The invitation is open. A better life begins when we choose Him.

Thanks be to God. Amen.