Matthew 26:6-13 tell the story of a woman who anointed Jesus’ head with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume while he was eating in the home of a man called “Simon the Leper.” (Presumably, Simon had been healed by Jesus and was no longer leprous.) Jesus’ disciples were indignant when they saw what the woman had done. They asked, “Why this waste? This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor” (NIV).

The issue here is one that comes up frequently today. Critics sometimes say that churches should stop wasting money on their buildings and give the money to the poor and needy instead. These critics are not necessarily poor and needy themselves but often seem to think that someone else should take care of the poor and needy, instead of the critics having to do it.

A couple of things need to be said first. It is indeed a travesty for massive cathedrals to be decorated with gold and jewels when there are massive needs all around them. It should also be said that many churches do care for the poor and needy—and use their buildings to do so.

There was a case a while ago when the congregation of a mainline church had dwindled to the point that it had decided to close down. The building was sold and the proceeds used to build social housing. It sounds like a good idea. But only in the short run. When future needs arise, there will be no church there to meet those needs. There will be no church volunteers to staff programs for the poor and needy. There will be no church to preach and teach people to love their neighbor as themselves.

Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” and the second is to “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39). The order is important. God is the source of love and justice. Throughout history, when humans have ignored God and focused on love of the neighbor without God, the result has often been oppression and suffering. Unless we are filled with the love of God, we cannot love our neighbor.