What we give

Giving graciously.

What does this mean to you?

There are people that do this, give beyond their own abilities and people that don't.

The rest of the people can be somewhere in between.

I once worked with a person a long time ago where I didn't see any giving.

They had the biggest and best of everything.

New motorcycle, big screen TV, a really nice house, newest cell phone and whatever you can have new, they probably had it.

Then I have met some really gracious people. People that had an awesome home and said it was made for ministry.

These people allowed for a baby shower of people at the Church they didn't know, big games people were able to invite themselves over and so on. It was beautiful.

When I compare the two, there was really nothing to compare, one you saw grace and one you saw stuff.

This is something we all have to watch out for.

Sometimes I do good with this and other times not so well, I think we are all like this.

It's something we have to keep ourselves in check with.

Where we put our money.

It can be a struggle.

Jesus was hanging out at Simon the Leper's house when a lady approach him and broke a very expensive container of perfume (Worth a years' salary) and poured it on his head.

The disciples were furious with this.

They said something along the lines of, "Dude! That is so weak, you could have given that money to the poor."

This is how Jesus responded Mark 14:6-9…

"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."

She did something beautiful.

Jesus said something in this section that is honestly wrecking my brain.

He explains you will always have poor people you won't always have me.

This shows the disciples have no idea what's happening still.

This lady loved Jesus so much she gave up a year's salary for him.

Would we be willing to do the same?

That would be hard to get by without a year's salary.

What do we give?

Some people are able to give money, others are able to give time.

We all have things we can give when we think of others first.

This lady could have kept this or got some sweet things with it.

Instead she did a beautiful thing and gave it to Jesus.

What is something you can give today?

Time?

Money?

Forgiveness?

We all have things we can give to other people.

Who is one person you can bless today?

Be gracious, Christ did the same for us.

Have a great day.