Key Passage
Some of the followers there saw this. They became upset and complained to each other. They said, “Why waste that perfume? That perfume was worth a full year’s work. It could be sold and the money could be given to poor people.” And they criticized the woman strongly.
— Mark 14:4-5 ERV (Read Full Text)
Key Thought
Isn’t it sadly strange that people so often criticize the gifts others make? I’m not sure if it is jealousy, greed, or pure pettiness that makes humans so quick to be critical of other’s generosity. However, God loves a cheerful and generous giver. Part of the reason is that we are most like God when we give generously and joyously. If only we were as generous with our giving as we are with our criticism!
Prayer
Loving God and Almighty Father in heaven, please use me as a conduit of your love, mercy, and grace. I want to have a heart that is generous with others even if those around me cannot understand that generosity. Thank you for being so generous with me. May I never hoard your blessings, but always be quick to share them in ways that bring you joy. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Related Scriptures
Give this command to the people who are rich with the things this world has. Tell them not to be proud. Tell those rich people to hope in God, not their money. Money cannot be trusted. But God takes care of us richly. He gives us everything to enjoy. Tell the rich people to do good. Tell them to be rich in doing good things. And tell them to be happy to give and ready to share. By doing that they will be saving a treasure for themselves {in heaven}. That treasure will be a strong foundation —their future life can be built on that treasure. Then they will be able to have the life that is true life.
— 1 Timothy 6:17-19
And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace (kindness) that God gave the churches (groups of believers) in Macedonia. Those believers have been tested by great troubles. And they are very poor people. But they gave much because of their great joy. I can tell you that they gave as much as they were able. Those believers gave even more than they could afford. They did this freely. No person told them to do this. But they asked us again and again—they begged us to let them share in this service for God’s people.
— 2 Corinthians 8:1-4
You know the grace (kindness) of our Lord Jesus Christ. You know that Christ was rich {with God}, but for you he became poor. Christ did this so that you could become rich by his becoming poor.
— 2 Corinthians 8:9
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