Ever heard the phrase “go for broke?”
The phrase is often used to describe going all in, holding nothing back, and putting everything on the line. Cambridge Dictionary actually defines it as "to risk everything in the hope of having great success."
Usually, when we “go for broke,” there's something on the other side of that action that we want. We risk it all so that we can win something. We bet it all so we can accumulate more. We sacrifice now so that we can succeed later. We go for broke for the promotion, to build the business, or to chase the dream.
But I wonder: what if you went for it without a focus on what you gained? What if your focus was what you gave instead?
There's a well-known story in Mark 14 about a woman who made a great sacrifice. She didn't go for broke, hoping that Jesus would give her something better in return. She made a great sacrifice because she believed that Jesus was worth it.
When some people watched her sacrifice a year's worth of wages to anoint Jesus, they used a word to describe it, and that word was "waste." One disciple even wondered why the money wasn’t used to help the poor.
However, Jesus had a very different response. “She has done what she could and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time.I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.” You could summarize the story by saying” what some people call waste, Jesus calls worship.”
That story was in my mind as I listened to bodie's song, "Go for Broke." The finalist in season 22 of The Voice saw his song, “Whisper and the Wind,” climb to Billboard’s Top 10. “Go for Broke” strikes a different tone and uses a well-known phrase to invite listeners into a counter-cultural path. Bodie, an artist known for honesty and authenticity, invites listeners to redirect their all-out mentality away from worldly success and toward surrender to God.
“I′m going for broke
Face down on the floor
You can have all the glory
'Cause it′s already Yours”
In addition to drawing on the imagery of Mark 14, Bodie also points listeners to 2 Samuel 6. After a victorious outcome in battle, David returns to the city and exhibits extravagant worship, bringing out a strong response in his wife (and Saul's daughter), a woman named Michal. She suggests that David should be embarrassed by his actions. “She said in disgust, ‘How distinguished the king of Israel looked today, shamelessly exposing himself to the servant girls like any vulgar person might do!’”
However, David was not trying to be successful or solicit the admiration of others. He responded surprisingly. “I was dancing before the Lord… He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord, so I celebrate before the Lord. Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes.”
The disciples saw waste, while Jesus saw worship. Michal saw embarrassment, while David saw worship. On both occasions, a person’s worship revealed what they believed God was worth. If God is worth that much, then why wouldn’t we “go for broke” in our worship of Him? Why wouldn’t we surrender and sacrifice it all for His sake?
I wonder what it would look like for you to go for broke with your whole life? What would that mean you need to set down before God? Reputation? Plans? Resources? Comfort? Relationships?
Mary heard “waste.” David heard “embarrassing.” Yet, they both replied with the same message: “He’s worth it.”
These two passages (and the song which puts their lessons into lyrics) invite us to shift away from getting something from God to giving ourselves fully to God.
Just days after Mary poured out something valuable to prepare Jesus, He gave his life for her, you, and me. In the words of Bodie, we go for broke today because Jesus went for broke on our behalf first.
It’s no wonder Bodie posted on social media that “me and my pals cried writing this song.” It’s one thing to sing about going for broke. It’s a much bigger thing actually to do it.
Scott Savage is a pastor, author, and speaker who loves tacos, matcha, and sneakers. With more than twenty years of ministry experience, he teaches with a blend of Biblical truth, emotional awareness, and the compassion shaped by his own struggles.
Scott’s writing has impacted over ten million people through trusted platforms such as the YouVersion Bible App, Air1 Radio, and Our Daily Bread. He’s the author of Faith Behind the Song, a 40-day devotional book published in partnership with K-Love Books. Whether speaking on a stage or writing on a page, he offers a steady, empathetic voice that reassures people they are seen, loved, and not beyond God's healing reach. You can sign up to receive his weekly newsletter at ScottSavageLive.com today!
