How Much Do We Love?

In Luke seven we find Jesus at the house of Simon (a Pharisee) at a table. While Jesus was reclining there, a sinful woman began washing His feet with her tears and drying them with her hair. She also anointed His feet with costly perfume she had brought. It seems Simon began to think less of Jesus because He was allowing this. Jesus, reading his mind, asked a question. A moneylender was owed 500 denarii by one and 50 by another. Neither was able to pay so he forgave both. Which would love him more? Simon answer correctly by stating the one who owed more. Jesus then put the lesson into application. Simon had done little for Jesus, but the sinful woman had done much (Luke 7:40-47).

“I have never committed adultery. I have never physically killed anyone. So I am feeling pretty good about myself if I forget a long list of sins I have committed. When I was baptized, I was a pretty good old boy according to the world. I just needed to get baptized because the Bible says so.” Maybe that is Simon’s mindset. He is a religious leader and considered a good guy according to the world. We might need some forgiveness but probably not much. There lies Simon’s and our problem if we think that way. Our sins, no matter how big or small, many or few, separate us from God and, if not covered by the blood of Jesus Christ, will send us to hell. We all are in debt more than we can pay. On the other hand, the sinful woman understood quite well that she was far from God. That motivated penitence and service. 

What might be some application for us? I think we need to continually remind ourselves how much God has done for us. We were lost and bound for hell because of our sin problem, but God stepped in. Praise God! That gratitude should motivate us to love much, as the text says, which comes out in a life of service to the One who has saved us. How much has God forgiven you?