What does it mean to fill your home with the fragrance of Christ?
For starters, it doesn’t take long for unpleasant smells to become offensive. Anyone who’s left a ripe banana in their car on a hot summer day can attest to that. 🙂
The same is true for families. Unchecked attitudes grow into offensive behaviors. Unruly priorities turn into chaos. And a haphazard view of God develops into an unbiblical worldview.
On the other hand, a spiritually strong family filled with the fragrance of Christ can change hearts, foster peace, and offer a heavenly perspective for life.
A HOME FILLED WITH THE FRAGRANCE OF CHRIST
Just days before His crucifixion, Jesus ate dinner at a home in Bethany with his friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus (John 12:1-8).
In those days it was customary to dab oil on the head of a guest. Oils and spices were costly. They were even used as investments or passed down as family heirlooms.
Mary took her own alabaster jar of oil and poured the whole thing on Jesus’ head. In fact, The Bible says the oil ran down His head and onto His feet.
A costly gift
Mary’s oil was costly. Thanks to Judas (who made sure to assess its value), we know it amounted to a laborer’s yearly wages. (There’s even a chance it was her dowry, which she would have been saving for marriage.)
Of course, Judas was indignant that Mary had wasted the oil instead of putting it in the money box. (After all, he took care of the money and proved to be a thief!)
But Judas isn’t the only one who thought Mary was crazy. The other disciples were upset, as well. They simply couldn’t understand the extravagance. Jesus had been telling His followers He was going to die, and apparently they didn’t believe Him.
But Mary did. With he lavish display of devotion, she was anointing His body for burial.
To the disciples she looked like a fool, but not to Jesus.
To add insult to injury, Mary didn’t consult any of the men about what she was about to do. She didn’t ask for permission, and she didn’t make a production.
Her drastic gesture was simply a natural overflow of the deep love she had in her heart for Jesus. Knowing He was about to die, she wanted to honor Him.
And expense was no object.
A loving tribute
That’s how I felt about my dad.
My dad was a practical man. He made smart, well-thought-out decisions. He didn’t waste things. And he believed in hard work.
In line with his character, my dad purchased a funeral plan years before he died. He selected his own casket and listed a few preferences for his service.
The day after my beloved father suffered a fatal stroke, I went with my mom and siblings to help arrange his burial.
And I was unprepared for how the details would make me feel.
My dad had chosen his own casket, but I felt an unexpected urge to make sure it was “nice enough.” So, I viewed all the other options just to be sure he hadn’t settled for a “bargain casket.”
I was surprised and a little embarrassed by my reaction. Yet, even though they didn’t say it out loud, I knew my mom and siblings felt the same way. We were all aware that planning my dad’s funeral service was our last chance to do something tangible for the man we dearly loved.
At that point, cost simply wasn’t an issue.
Without a doubt, my dad’s wise decision to plan ahead is the only thing that kept us from ordering the most expensive, ornate casket available.
Paying too much for an over-priced casket seems silly. Until you’re at a funeral home making arrangements to lay your loved one to rest. When it comes to giving honor to someone you’ve loved, where do you stop? How much would be too much?
THE FRAGRANCE OF CHRIST
Mary broke her expensive jar of oil and poured it on Jesus. And immediately the aroma of the scented oil permeated the entire house.
But she didn’t stop there. With no towel at hand, Mary used her own hair to wipe the oil on Jesus’ feet. And then the same sweet perfume that was on Him was on her, too.
The fragrance of Christ permeated her.
We can be filled with the aroma of Christ, too.
But thanks be to God, who always puts us on display in Christ, and spreads through us in every place the scent of knowing Him. For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.
2 Corinthians 2:14-15 (Christian Standard Bible)
So, what can we learn from Mary about building a home saturated with the fragrance of Christ?
1. Be a fool.
For Christ.
In other words, be willing to live a life that looks different from the world around you.
Mary had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pay tribute to the Lord she loved, and she pulled out all the stops.
Letting her hair down was against the custom of the day, but Mary didn’t care. She was reckless in her passion to honor Jesus.
If we want to honor Christ in our homes, we must be willing to look foolish in the eyes of the world.
Go against the flow.
Swim upstream.
Be willing to “overdo it.”
The way we discipline our kids, the entertainment options we allow, the attitudes we tolerate, the language and tone we use, and the activities we sign up for may or may not look like everyone else’s. But choose what honors Christ. Even when it’s hard.
For am I now trying to persuade people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Galations 1:10 CSB
When we consistently choose God’s way over the ways of the world, our homes will begin to give off an unmistakable whiff of the fragrance of Christ.
2. Take the lead
Mary was on the fringes of Jesus’ inner circle. She wasn’t nearly as close in proximity to Him as the disciples were. Yet, in that moment she’s the one who really understood Him. She knew Him. She’d spent time with Him. She had worshiped Him.
As a woman, that warms my heart.
In other words, we don’t have to be a pastor, a church leader, a seminary graduate, or even a man😊 to understand the heart of God.
Recently, I met with a church staff member whose domineering leadership was causing problems. I cringed as he spouted off a list of ministries he’d led as though they gave him an upper hand with God. He went on to demean church members and then made sexually inappropriate comments. In a split second, I knew he’d been involved in the things of God but hadn’t been near the heart of God.
The spiritual scent of our homes begins with and depends on us.
We can blame a lot of people and we can blame a lot of circumstances when our homes are filled with discord, but if we want our homes to change, then we must draw near to the heart of God.
Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
James 4:8 New Living Translation
Sometimes we put more effort into choosing a candle fragrance than filling our homes with the fragrance of Christ. Don’t let that be you. Seek Him today.
3. Don’t let your family be your only focus.
There’s something special about people who spend time at the feet of Jesus. Their speech, countenance, and outlook are different. And contagious.
Mary spent time at Jesus’ feet.
Weeks earlier, while her sister scurried around and fussed over details, Mary had been focused on the presence of Jesus.
The lives of people devoted to Jesus are scented with the fragrance of Christ. When we’re around them, we find ourselves breathing in heavily so we can take Him into our own lives.
Your life may be busy, but let your focus be Jesus.
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Colossians 3:2 New Living Translation
Open your Bible and learn about Him.
Praise Him with songs and words.
And worship Him by bowing your heart and will to Him.
PRACTICAL WAYS TO FOCUS ON JESUS:
- Carve out time for prayer. Real prayer.
- Get alone with the Lord (even if only in your heart).
- Praise Him.
- Be still. Listen to Him speak through the pages of scripture.
- Ask God to help you see things through His eyes.
Fill your home with the fragrance of Christ.
Let’s get radical about choosing to honor Him with every choice we make for our familes. We can take the lead in drawing near to God by focusing our own hearts on Jesus.
Regardless of the cost, your decision to honor Christ in your home will be worth it.
Mary spared no expense to honor the Lord. Her love for Him drove her to do something that was out of the ordinary, radical, and passionate. And Jesus applauded her.
What’s holding you back? Afraid of being different? Do you wrongly think things are too far gone to turn the train around? Or have you convinced yourself that your life is simply too busy for Bible study or prayer?
Take one step.
Just one.
Choose to be different. Take the lead. Turn your focus on Jesus.
Then keep walking.
And get ready to breathe in the sweet aroma of a home filled with the fragrance of Christ.
