Extravagant
People feel disconnected. We live amongst many and yet feel alone. We spend more and more time online and in that place people are coming to us asking for someone to care. You can help. Give here.
“While he [Jesus] was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on His head.” (Mark 14:3)
Imagine the scene. Not long before Judas betrayed Jesus, the disciples gathered for a meal in the home of one of their friends. A woman came to Jesus and poured out a fragrant offering on His head. Did the perfume represent her life savings or her dowry or her inheritance? We’re not told the details but the value of the perfume made her gift extravagant.
Soon the Jews would crucify Jesus for claiming to be God. Jesus knew His death quickly approached; He accepted her act as preparation for His burial and called it beautiful. But not everyone saw her gesture as Jesus did.
“Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, ‘Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.’ And they rebuked her harshly.” (Mark 14:4-5)
I am frugal by nature, how would I have responded? Do I see extravagant gifts for God as a waste? Sometimes the situation calls for an outrageous gift. Jesus gave His life. Could we ever out give Him?
“‘Leave her alone,’ said Jesus. ‘Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on My body beforehand to prepare for My burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” (Mark 14:6-9)
Holy and Gracious God, I want to give extravagantly. You gave Your life for me; help me to give my all for You. Amen
Questions: How do you view extravagant gifts for God? What keeps you from giving extravagantly?
Ed’s note: We are delighted to celebrate with Suzanne as her first novel was published on June 18th. Congratulations! You can learn more about Birthmark on Suzanne’s site http://www.suzannebenner.com
4 Responses to “Extravagant”
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This is not about me just what God can do tru all of us to give. I prayed for a long time to be a better neighbor. One day my neighbor became very sick, I was able to help with his yard work and over the next few months he got worse. I found out he was in need of a kidney and that he had a possible donor. Time went by ,month or so, nothing transpired so I ask, he said the donor backed out.I ask him what his blood type was, it was the same as mime. Thru prayer God put it on my heart to try to give. I passed all the tests and the transplant took place. The best Part in all of this was he excepted the lord during this time. He is no longer with us due to other health issues but I know he is with Jesus. If giving him my kidney is what it took for him to except Christ so be it, after all Jesus bled and died for you and me how can we deny him anything. Everything we are and have came from him…
I am excited to read suzanne’s fiction novel..I have just completed a book ..and “Birthmark” will be my next one. I have been reading her devotionals on this site for a couple yrs..I’m looking forward to reading another fiction Christian novel… Thank you cwt for the superior guidance you give all of your readers ..on a regular basis.
I view extravagant gifts for God as anything we can give Him that is pleasing to Him…no matter how large or how small.
Dear Suzanne…
I had no idea what you meant by “extravagant gifts for God”, so I had a look at the TruthMedia website.
Apparently, TruthMedia is an expert in online ministry. Through a network of websites that reach out to many segments of society, TruthMedia ministers directly to hundreds of thousands of people every month.
In Matthew 19 (King James), it says:
And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
(And) Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
I have grown to be a non-denominational Christian for various reasons. One of these is that the King James Version (original) of the bible has been acclaimed as the greatest example of English literature ever written.
Another is that I consider myself to be literate enough to understand the King James Bible.
Finally, I grew weary of being told by others what it really meant. As there is no alternative, I have to believe that it means what it says, and those who choose to “read between the lines” or suggest it means other than what it says are merely voicing their “subjective opinion”.
We must never forget that the Holy See reacted very strongly when the bible was finally published in the vernacular instead of Latin. We were finally able to read it ourselves instead of hearing it in Latin and being told what it “meant”.
As Jesus also said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. If we are all “God’s Children”, one must wonder if there will be consequences for those who stood in the way by not allowing us to read it for ourselves.
In closing Suzanne, I have no quarrel with your Ministry, but there is so poverty in the United States. Children go to school hungry; people die because they cannot afford medical services, and the number of homeless is a blight on your society.
These are those who truly need your help, but it is very unlikely that they own a computer or have Internet access.
You may wish to consider your decision to minister to the affluent while ignoring the poor.
Jan,
Since your comment is directed at TruthMedia rather than at Suzanne I’ll respond. You claim that the King James Bible is the original Bible and that is simply incorrect. The original Bible was not written in English it was written in Hebrew and Greek. Yes, it is preferable to read the original where possible, but to do that you’re going to need to look much earlier than the King James translation. During my university studies I had the opportunity to study biblical Greek and it was wonderful to be able to read the original Greek with no translator. Having said that, time and again, as my professor explained the nuances of the language to us I could see the benefit that his years of study and knowledge had over my beginnings. For practical purposes, I quite like a translated English Bible and there are many good translations to choose from.
It is important to give to the poor but I do not agree that ALL ministry must ONLY be to the poor. I see that you yourself have not given all you have to poor as you are on a computer, on the internet, as I am. It is simply not true that an online ministry ministers only to the affluent. Fifteen, twenty years ago that might have been true but computer access is a daily reality for people of all sorts of economic backgrounds. Yes, there are many who cannot afford it, but no single ministry can meet the needs of all people at all times in all circumstances. It is interesting that you mentioned the problem of poverty in the United States. TruthMedia is not based in the US. We’re Canadian.
There is more that could be said, but I doubt that it would be a profitable discourse.