Precious in His Sight

Last year, I was preparing for a midweek service at Ramp Church. As I was planning the details, I paused and asked the Lord if there was anything specific He wanted to say concerning the offering that night. I immediately heard in my spirit, “Do not despise what is precious to Me.” First of all, I was thankful to hear anything from the Lord! Secondly, I quickly realized this statement not only applied to that evening’s offering, but it reveals a much larger kingdom principle. In fact, the more you meditate upon this phrase, the larger it gets in its revelation and application, touching every area of your life.

Since I initially heard this in reference to an offering, let’s start there. Too often, we judge something’s value based upon its quantity. A large offering we cherish, but a small offering we don’t. However, Jesus teaches His disciples a different way. In Mark 12:41–44, He overlooks the large donations from the wealthy, and instead, He focuses upon the small donation from the poor widow. Her sacrifice, though insignificant in the eyes of man, moves His heart. What others probably despised, He esteemed.

Or consider the way in which Jesus interacts with children. In Mark 10:13–16, His disciples see children as nothing more than an inconvenience, not worthy of Jesus’ time or attention. They even “rebuked those who brought them.” Does Jesus agree with their assessment? Absolutely not. Instead, Jesus is “greatly displeased” with His disciples and invites the children to come unto Him. Then, He invests His time with them in a personal way: “And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.” While the disciples devalued these little ones, they were “precious in His sight.”

Another example is found in Mark 14:3–9. In that passage, you find the woman with the “alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard.” What does she do with this expensive possession? She pours every last drop upon Jesus. How do the disciples respond? Scripture says they were “indignant among themselves” and “criticized her sharply.” They despise her sacrifice. What does Jesus think about it, though? Jesus thinks so highly of her action that He promises it will always be remembered: “Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.” Apparently, her “wasted” oil was precious to Him.

Over and over again, scripture testifies that man has a tendency to despise what God considers precious. Man has a tendency to value only what can be quantified or leveraged for gain. For God, it goes much deeper than the size or scale of something. He looks upon the qualities man does not see. He values what man may scorn.

This statement from God (“Do not despise what is precious to Me”) carries two things within it. First, a rebuke. It rebukes our worldly way of assessing worth, and it calls us to repent. Secondly, it carries an affirmation. It affirms how precious you are to God. Regardless of whether or not man despises you, God’s value system is the one that matters. And you move His heart.