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A PURPOSE FOR EVERY GIFT

Thirty years ago, I had some friends who were newly married, deeply in love, and flat broke. They had no money, no savings, nothing. One day, my friend received a surprise bonus check from his job. It was the largest amount of money they had ever seen in one lump sum. To them it was a huge amount, especially since they didn’t really have anything. They had lots of needs and plenty of ways to spend the money, but once the euphoria subsided, they started sensing the money wasn’t for them.

They went to the pastor of the church and said, “We don’t know specifically who or what this is for, but we want to give this money.” Then their pastor said, “Yesterday, I met with a widow in our church. I found out they are going to take her house if she can’t come up with a certain amount of money. The amount she needs, to the penny, is the amount of this check.”

The reason I’m telling you this story is to show that God has a purpose for every gift. This is a biblical truth we see in John 12:1–8, in which Mary gave Jesus an extravagant gift.

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.”

Think about the extravagance of the gift Mary gave Jesus. Three hundred denarii was equal to about a year’s wages. Imagine taking all the money you make in a year and spending it on perfumed oil. Now, imagine taking that oil and pouring it on someone’s feet. You’re never going to get it back. It begs the question, Why?

When we go back to the chapter before this story, John 11, we see a detailed account of Jesus coming to Bethany and raising Mary and Martha’s brother Lazarus from the dead. One chapter later, Mary gave her most precious possession to the Lord. Is it possible that the events of chapter 11 gave Mary a new perspective? Could burying her beloved brother, having him lie in the grave for four days, and then suddenly seeing him restored to life at the word of Jesus have changed Mary’s values and priorities? Maybe material possessions didn’t seem so precious anymore. Perhaps our perspective needs to change as well. After all, if you know Jesus, you’ve been raised from the dead yourself (Ephesians 2:4–6). See, a generous heart stems from a grateful heart.

In Mark’s account of this story, in Mark 14:8, he records some of Jesus’ words that John didn’t. This is where we realize that Mary’s gift had a deeper purpose than she could have imagined. After Judas complained about the “waste” of the precious oil, Jesus responded by saying, “She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial.”

If you recall the details of the crucifixion, you’ll remember that Jesus’ body was taken off the cross at sundown just before the Sabbath was about to begin. That meant they had to quickly wrap Jesus’ body in cloth and lay Him in the tomb. There was no time to anoint His body with perfumed oils or spices as they normally would. Think about it: The only person on earth who received the privilege of anointing Jesus’ body for burial was Mary.

You never know the purpose behind your gift. But if God puts it in your heart to give extravagantly, and you obey, you’ll be amazed by the way He uses your gift.

PRAYER
God, thank You that the gifts I give have a purpose. Give me a grateful and generous heart, and cause my gifts to be used for Your kingdom in miraculous, powerful ways. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

MEMORY VERSE
"You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it." MATTHEW 21:22 (NLT)