What do you think about giving the best to Jesus? When people give the best to the Lord what does that say about them? When we give what is left over to the Lord what does that say about us? It is our heart that motivates what we give to Jesus.
If you could give a special gift to Jesus, what would it be? When someone gives you, a special gift how does that make you feel? How does the Lord feel when we give Him a special gift?
If you were to describe your giving to the Lord, how would you describe yourself? If you were to pray about your giving, what would you ask the Lord about?
Jesus Receives the Best
One day Jesus was eating at the house of a religious leader called a Pharisee. On this day a woman would seek out Jesus and come to the house of the Pharisee to give Jesus a gift.
Luke 7:37 When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. 38 Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them. [1] It would have taken years to save the money needed to buy this perfume. What does the gift tell about this woman?
Giving the Best to Jesus Frees us from the Chains of Materialism
Giving our best to Jesus puts what we own in perspective. When we give the best to Jesus it begins to break the chains of materialism that often grips us. Material wealth is temporary and is only for this earthly life.
But God can use our resources to do something that is eternal. Our giving can be used to build the spiritual kingdom of God as we help others and tell them about Jesus. The Lord does not need our resources. Psalm 50: 9 But I do not need the bulls from your barns or the goats from your pens.10 For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills.[2]
As we give our best to Jesus, we realize all we have is a gift from God. Our hearts are refined, and we begin to hold loosely the gifts God has given.
The Lord Gave Us His Best
When the Father sent His only Son into this world, He sent the best! God did not hold back because no one can out give God, and no one is more generous. When Jesus died for our sins on the cross, He extended to us the greatest and most valuable gift we will ever receive. The Bible calls it a great treasure.
James 1: 17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.[3]
To hear more about giving the best to Jesus, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/seeking-the-lord-changes-my-life-sinful-woman
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.