I OFFER YOU …
The story of the woman and her container of
precious perfume has always fascinated me.
In eight brief verses the Apostle John tells us of the resurrected
Lazarus dining with our Lord; Mary anointing Him with an expensive fragrance;
Judas lamenting that the money spent for the perfume could have been better
used to provide for the poor; the gentle rebuke of our Lord and his comment
that Mary’s deed would be long remembered.
Her generous gift prompted me to wonder if I would ever have an
opportunity to show my love for our
Lord by giving Him something that I really cared about – not just an ordinary
offering but something that was really important to me.
It occurred to me that each of us probably has a container of
perfume, something precious to us that would cost us something to part with. It may not be anything of great monetary value in the
worldly sense and actually is really a return of that given by Him. Each of us has been given specific gifts –
and each of us is unique. Some people
are gifted in music, others in speaking.
Some are gifted in working with people and in listening to or in caring
for others. Numerous people are skilled
with hands, in craftsmanship, or mechanics.
Many have been given creativity and patience and work well with children
or with the elderly. Everyone has gifts
and talents – some may be hidden, but they are there! Whatever the gift, it forms the basis for our gift to Him by
using it to serve others for His glory.
Giving our “gift” may mean serving someone who does not appreciate
our offering. It is fairly easy to
serve a grateful person, but it is difficult to be a servant to someone who
does not appreciate our beneficence.
Think about it. Are we willing
to freely give our container of precious perfume of time, talent, or comfort to
our Lord through others in need of it?