In For the Long Run? #3

Ron Simkins – March 11, 2025 3 Comments

This week’s blog features part 3 of the In For The Long Run? series by Ron Simkins. Ron challenges us to examine if we are “‘in for the long run’ when it comes to sharing our resources with those in need.”-Melissa Logsdon, NCF Associate Pastor

Recently, Vern Fein reminded me of a “in for the long run” Scripture that is often misinterpreted and misapplied. The translations are all pretty clear. However, failure to take the context seriously—two contexts actually—has allowed many Christians to misapply Jesus’ words. In fact, to misapply them in a manner that provides an excuse for acting exactly the opposite of Jesus’ actions and teachings.

The passage (John 12:1-8) describes a time less than a week before Jesus was executed when a wealthy family, who were dear friends to Jesus, were hosting him and his disciples. While the rather large party of guests were reclining at a meal—probably a very good one—the younger sister in the family began to anoint Jesus’ feet with perfume.  John says that this perfume was valued at 300 denarii—perhaps as much as twenty thousand dollars in today’s money. 

Judas openly reprimands Jesus for allowing this to occur.  He complains that all of that money could have been “given to the poor.” A response that indicates that the “common purse” Jesus and his disciples shared was often used to help the poor. John says that as treasurer of the common purse, Judas’ real concern was how much he might have been able to get away with skimming off for his personal use.

Jesus responds to Judas: “Leave her alone, she just anointed me for burial.”  (No one else ever got to do so.) This part of the context indicates that Jesus affirmed that there are times when a one-time big splurge out of love for someone else might be very appropriate. Perhaps especially someone who is about to die.

However, it is the other half of Jesus’ response that has often been misapplied. And, it has been misapplied as an excuse for not helping the poor. “You always have the poor with you” (John 12:8). The misinterpretation and misapplication that many Christians have used as an excuse? “Giving to the poor isn’t really that important since the poor always remain poor anyway. You can’t really help them.” Implied: it is really their fault that they are poor anyway.

Jesus’ response actually meant the opposite of this excuse. Jesus is saying, God expects you to “keep on keeping on” giving to the poor all the rest of your life. Social circumstances and life circumstances will always cause some people to become poorer than you are. You are to be “in for the long run” in giving to those who are poorer in resources. How do we know that is what Jesus was actually saying? Because he is quoting an important part of the Torah. And, his disciples would have known the context. It would be good if we—and those Christians who use this passage as an excuse for not being supportive and generous—did as well.

Here it is:
10Give liberally and be ungrudging when you do so, for on this account YHWH your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. 11Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, “Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land”. (Deuteronomy 15:10-11)

This is God’s Torah—instruction for living as the people of God. Yes, we need to ask God for wisdom to know how to do this well both as individuals and as a Fellowship. And, we can help one another pray and think that through in responding to various circumstances. 

But first things first. Are we, are you, am I, “in for the long run” when it comes to sharing our resources with those in need? Are we encouraging our state and our nation to do the same? -Ron Simkins, NCF Pastor Emeritus