The Generous Life Series

2. The Extravagance of Generosity

-1 year’s wages – that was the value of the perfume Mary poured out on Jesus. A denarius was one day’s wages. 300 denary was 1 year’s wage, once you take out Sabbaths, holidays or feast days, etc.

-Get this idea of extravagance! It would be one thing to give away a year’s salary. Think of 20 to $60,000 in today’s economy around here (+or-). That would be extravagant. But watch what Mary does. She takes that total amount and buys perfume and pours it out on someone’s feet. No giving receipts. No tax deductions. No goods or services received in exchange. Not even the satisfaction of saying you helped a family in need. -This was an extravagant gift to the Lord! What gift could you give to God that would be extravagant? How much would it take to impress God? 10,000? 50,000? 1 mil? 100 mil? National debt figures? Remember how much God owns? He owns everything! It takes a lot to impress God! Just think about His house, as described in the Bible. His streets are paved with gold. The foundations of His walls are diamonds. His gates are pearls. There are numerous other precious stones and gems. So, what amount of money would impress God? None. But something does impress Him!

2 Corinthians 8:3-5 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.

-Giving yourself impresses God! That is extravagant. But let me remind you that your wallet comes with you. Where your treasure is there your heart is also.

-3 levels of giving in the Bible: 1) Tithes, 2) Offerings, and 3) Extravagant Offerings.

-Most Christians never get to the first level. Only 5-7% of Christians give God the first tenth or more (to the local church, undesignated). But every person who gets to the 1st level also gets to the 2nd level. Why? B/c the curse is removed from their finances, the devourer is rebuked, and the windows of heaven are opened over them. Then, a few people will go to the 3rd level. Mary anointed Jesus for His burial.

-There was a young married couple in their first year of marriage. They were both working and both received very large bonuses. There were many things they could have used that money for as they were building their lives together. But they had a sense that the money was not for them. So they spoke to their pastor about it, and said, we feel like God wants us to give this amount. We don’t really know to what or to whom it should go, but here’s the check. The pastor then told them of a widow who had met with him a day earlier. Her house was going to be foreclosed on unless she came up with this large lump sum. The amount that she owed was exactly the amount of the check they handed to the pastor. They gave extravagantly out of obedience to God and found joy in doing so.