Generous Worship in Response
A woman in that town who lived a sinful life … came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. (Luke 7:37-38)
I love God’s economy. Over the years I have discovered that He put into the hearts of people a generosity that is inherent. People give and give – whether in the fear of God or not; some are forced, and others love it; some give little, others much; some give rarely, others gively often. God left some assignments that can best be executed using pool funds from generous givers: that is the case with government work that is funded by taxes, donations and grants; that is the case with church work that is funded from offerings of different kinds; that is the case with needy people that are looked after by haphazard resources not their own. It is good and important to know your part in these assignments. In God’s economy, to give is a blessing, and it is human nature.
Before we run for assignments, causes, projects – which, when well presented, move hearts to melt and pockets to open up – there is an important lesson to learn from the woman in Luke 7. Her offering was not inspired by any need at hand; she spent a lot of money on an expensive alabaster jar of perfume to bring it as her offering; her only inspiration was love and appreciation for Jesus and His saving work. This woman had a label that was hard to erase; her actions and Jesus response show that she had reformed – she had been converted and become a follower and worshipper of Jesus Christ; yet she is still referred to as one ‘who lived a sinful life’! Jesus not only defended her generosity, but also gave her a direct and firm assurance: ‘Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’ (Luke 7:48,50).
There is nothing wrong with giving as a result of being moved by a well presented project; nothing wrong with giving expecting to receive back a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over. But the most important motivation to give should be WORSHIP. Generous worship may be in response to what God has done or just who God is – a great and mighty God in whose presence we dare not come without a physical expression of our worship! That woman was crazy – spending all her dignity and her money just to worship the Lord! Yet there could have been demanding projects around.
There are numerous other examples of such givers, who were only worshipping God generoulsy or even extravagantly: Solomon, at the dedication of the Temple, sacrificed twenty-two thousand head of cattle (2Chr 7:5)! Barnabas sold a field and brought all the proceeds to the apostles (Acts 4:36-37)! And there are more examples both in the Bible and in more recent history. Even in our time, and in this Church, in your house – even you can worship God generously. He is a great and mighty God; and He has done great things. Hallelujah!