Give with Generous Hands

Pray – (1/2 minute)

Read – (2 1/2 minutes) – “Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” (John 12:3)

     Passage: 1 Chronicles 29:10-20 

        When Mary poured the perfume oil on the feet of Jesus, her gift had an immediate impact by filling the house with a beautiful fragrance. Her gift was also criticized by Judas, who realized the value of that perfume was about a full year’s wage for the average person in that time. However, Jesus accepted the gift and affirmed it. The gift was given from a grateful heart, and it came through generous hands that believed that Jesus was worth it all.

        There are many people who will talk about how they would give millions they don’t have, but they are not giving with the current resources they do have. Generosity is not limited to a gift that is bigger than what you have. It comes from giving out of what you do have and trusting God in His provision. In 2 Corinthians 8, Paul used the believers in Philippi as an example for those in Corinth as he was raising funds to help believers in Jerusalem. He said, “Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able and even beyond their ability…” (v.2-3) Mary gave her gift with generous hands. We should too.

Apply - (2 1/2 minutes)
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Pray - (1 1/2 minutes)