It's Not About What Is Given

John 12:3 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. 

What would we give in exchange for what we have been given? It is interesting that Mary used something that had the value of a year's salary to anoint Jesus. What was amazing was not the amount of what the oil was worth. What was amazing was that Jesus had not yet given His life for any of them or us at the time that Mary did this. Think about that for a moment. Sadly, today there are many who do not give anything and use all kinds of excuses as to why they do not give. However, I would like us to understand something about what Mary did in giving what she gave. The point is not really about what she gave or how much it was worth. The point is that what she gave, she gave as an act of worship. Again, I remind us all that what she gave, she gave before Jesus went to the cross for us. My point being that today we are enjoying the outcome of what Jesus did for us on Calvary. We enjoy a salvation that was freely given to us by faith. Yet, we have such a difficult time being the living sacrifices we are called to be. We grumble and complain when the Lord puts it on our hearts to give, whining about what we will have to give up or potentially lose. We hold on to our time, which we waste on things that have no heavenly worth. We sell out our talents and abilities to the world for the sake of gaining the dollar, but respond that we have to "pray about it" when we are asked to use those same talents and abilities to serve God in the local church. How would our thinking change if we saw the giving of our time, talents, resources, and treasures, as an act of worship toward Jesus? Would it change how much we would be willing to give? Would it change us from a whinny giver to a cheerful giver? Does not our Heavenly Father deserve the best of us and what we have, since He gave us what was most valuable and precious to Him; His only begotten Son? Let us ponder that the next time we try to put a tight grip on whatever it is God puts on our hearts to give for His glory. Whatever it might be, let us give it as an act of worship for the One who gave us much more than any of us deserve; because it's not about what is given, but about the heart with which it is given...a heart of worship.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Romans 10:13).