wednesday

As Jesus was eating with friends, a woman came with a jar of very expensive imported perfume made from pure nard.  The cost of the perfume was about a year’s worth of wages.  To put it in today’s terms, think of your entire year’s salary being poured out on Jesus’ head in one lavish offering.  The disciples were angry and didn’t see the gift as an offering, but as a wasteful, impulsive act.  The extravagant generosity of the woman illuminated their own selfish desires and they cloaked their guilt and shame by expressing concern that the gift could have been better used in other ways.  But as Jesus saw through their words and into their hearts, He affirmed the woman’s gift and expressed appreciation and love for her willingness to give so selflessly.  This sacrificial act of worship given from a heart of love and devotion was the most important thing she could have done with this perfume.  

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How do you worship Jesus?  Do you give extravagantly from what is most valuable or do you tend to give what is leftover and easily replaced? Our greatest acts of worship come from a place of selflessness.  Take three index cards or three pieces of paper.  Write the words, "Talents," "Time," and "Treasures" at the top of each one.  On one side of the card write an example of the types of gifts you typically give in that category.  Then flip the card or paper over and write what it would look like if you began to worship extravagantly through giving in each of these areas.