Saturday, April 3, 2010

Be Generous Beyond Reason

"She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial."

-- Mark 14:8

Every year around Easter we hear again the story of Mary and her generosity. This is the Mary who was the sister of Lazarus and Martha. They lived in Bethany, which means the house of the poor or afflicted. Jesus would leave from Bethany on what is now called Palm Sunday.

Mary annointed Jesus' body with expensive perfume, then wiped his feet with her hair. Did she know what was to come? Did she understand what He would face?

She certainly ignited the indignation of some folks. They were furious that she would waste expensive perfume when it could be sold and the money given to the poor. Of course, Judas wanted the money for himself. But when is generosity ever wrong?

Pastor Gary tells us we live in a dollar and cents world where life is measured like in a marketplace. Judas represents a miserly person -- think Scrooge -- who wants to accumulate everything he can for himself.

Mary gave everything she had. She was generous beyond reason. She violated what was acceptable in her world. For example, it was shameful for a Jewish woman to appear in public with her hair down.
None of that seemed to matter to her. She gave what she could, used what she had, to honor the Man who had brought her brother back to life.

What is the difference between a miserly person and a generous person? Happiness? Peace within? God's direction? We are called to share what He gives us. We are called to trust Him for our needs, even as we do for others with what we have.

Jesus said, "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." (Mark 14:9) Mary gave and Jesus vowed everyone would remember. And we do remember. We think about her generosity. We think of how she gave to honor Jesus. What are we giving to honor Him today?