There were many people around Jesus who did not understand His perspective of a lifestyle of giving. This is evidenced in the account when a lavish offering
was given to Jesus:
“Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him
a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed
the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.”
“But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, ‘Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given
to the poor?’ This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in
it.”
“But Jesus said, ‘Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always'” (John
12:1-8 NKJV).
This offering was given to Jesus by Mary, the sister to Lazarus. The value was equal to an average worker’s salary for an entire year. This was a wealthy
woman who gave an extravagant and seemingly unreasonable offering directly to Jesus. It was not something He needed, yet He still received it.
The disciples, however, criticized her sharply for her extravagance. They considered it a waste to use this expensive oil on Jesus. Judas took his criticism
to another level. He said this should have been sold and given to the poor. His motive was not his love for the poor. He was a thief, and his heart
was governed by dishonesty.
This same criticism can be heard today, and for the same reason. Carnal-minded people often fail to see the value of giving to ministries and ministers
of God. It is often viewed as a waste of money, and even manipulative. Yet, the same motive that governed Judas governs their hearts also. They may
not be stealing from the offerings, but they are thieves by failing to honor God with their own offerings. Malachi 3:9-10 says we rob God when we fail
to give our tithes and offerings to God.
Jesus did not view this woman’s offering as extravagant or wasteful. But instead, He viewed it as a spiritual offering from Mary’s heart. It would also
become the connection that would link her to the blessing because she had activated the law of God.
Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the
same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38 NKJV).
When we give our offerings, we can activate the same law of God that Mary activated that will connect us to the blessing. Give an offering from your heart
like Mary and activate the law of God (click here to give now).
