So how do you feel about extravagance? Generosity? The way we use our resources?
In regard to the scripture passage he preaches on this week, Dan Giang suggests that perhaps our problem is that we know the story so well, sometimes we don't really hear what it is saying. Perhaps so.
Well then, perhaps it is time to allow this story to surprise us again! A least one of the questions in this story has to do with how we respond to amazingly extravagant gifts! There are a number of responses in the story. Which ones surprise you the most? Which one would likely have been yours?
If you would like to hear Dan's thoughts on this once again, you can listen to the sermon by clicking here.
Questions to Consider / Ponder:
It is possible to become so aware of and concerned about the scarcity of resources in our world (worried that there is not enough to go around) that we find it difficult to live out of a sense of abundance?
Scarcity drives us toward frugality. Abundance (should) elicit a sense of generosity. This is why there is a difference between living out of grace rather than living out of anxiety. What are the implications of this for how we live, how we respond to God, how we actually care for the needs of the world around us?
How do we put the two ideas of responsible use of resources for the greatest good together with the realization of overflowing grace and extravagance in the way we express our gratitude?
These are questions worth pondering!
John 12:1-8 (NIV)
1Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5"Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." 6He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
7"Leave her alone," Jesus replied. " It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."
A more upbeat expression of God's Extravagant Love