Perhaps I am one of a few who worry about this, but there are times when I feel like I am wasting my life as the world would see it. I have no full time job, no college degree, I still live at home, and it looks unlikely that my situation will change very soon. I often struggle with this worldly mindset of "needing to do something" with my life so it "won't be wasted". True, I am still young and have a lot of time, but as we all know, years start to pass away like months and months like weeks and before long it will be "too late" for me to do anything "worthwhile" with my life.
As I was meditating on the lack of accomplishments in my life I read these verses in Mark 14: "And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”" (Mark 14:3-9)
This woman is absolutely incredible! She took what was probably the most costly and important thing in her life and she gave it to the Lord! She gave it freely, it was not demanded of her, it was not asked of her, but she gave it of her own accord. After she had given such a precious gift, she was chastised for not using it for a "better" purpose.
Is this not the same reaction the world gives when they feel someone is "wasting" their lives. The world feels that a person who doesn't strive to become successful or use their resources to better themselves is a fool and disappointment. If one's life is given to the Lord how can it be a waste? A life given for the glorification and service of God is the only kind of life worth living. All other things will pass away. Success does not last it is at the whim of the people. Education is only useful when one remembers what they have learned and often it will mean nothing when memory becomes less and less dependable. Money is only as good as the government and nations shall rise and fall. The only thing that will last forever is the life that has been lived for the Lord.
My conclusion: Just as Jesus came to Mary's rescue when she was criticized for her imprudence, so shall He come to mine when the world's mindset starts to infiltrate my own thoughts. I refuse to be ashamed of my lack of earthly accomplishments. I refuse to be bullied into thinking that I am worthless because I have not attained a certain standing in the world, or lack a certain degree, or am not striving for something more. These things can never satisfy my heart or give me a real and long-lasting sense of purpose. My aim is so much higher than the here and now, my aim is eternal, it is for God, Himself, to love Him more with each passing moment, to know Him more than I have, to live more for Him.
P.S. Just so everyone knows, I am not against people getting an education, working in corporate affairs, or being successful. I just think it can be easy to get into the mindset that this is what needs to be done rather than allowing for the Lord to lead and trusting Him when He leads us away from such things.