What We Have to Offer

This past week God has really been working in my heart and teaching me more about what it means to give and what it means to serve. The topic of service was talked about in the Men's Ministry group on campus today and the summary was that we first must realize that we can only love because God first loved us. And from that our greatest mission is to love God and then to love others. Our service must stem from our love. If we do not love, we serve with no purpose, and our service is worthless. We looked at an example from the bible in Mark chapter 14 where Jesus was anointed.

 ³ While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

 ⁴ Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? ⁵ It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages^[a] and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.

   ⁶ “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. ⁷The poor you will always have with you,^[b] and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. ⁸ She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. ⁹ Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

The women here gave a beautiful gift to Jesus out of the love of her heart. The thing that God has been laying on me is that the most beautiful gifts come from the love of our hearts and are not about the size of the gifts, they are about the quantity of our gifts, but they are about the meaning behind the gift. Jesus ministry was not about being the most economically efficient, it was about giving from the heart. This perfume may have been the only thing this woman had to offer Jesus and Jesus was not one to take that away from her. He did not wish to prevent her from worshiping Him. 

I was told a story about a professor who went on a missions trip to another country that was a fairly poor country. He was invited to dinner by this family of four who wanted to have dinner with him. He went and the only thing that the family had to eat for dinner that day was two eggs. The family took one of the eggs for themselves and wanted to give the man the other one as a gift. But the man refused saying that he did not need it and that they should have it, they need it more. After debating with the family they ended up splitting both the eggs evenly among them. After he left he felt terrible about what he had done. This family had very little to offer as a gift and the one thing that were able to offer he refused. He took away their opportunity to be hospitable and he took away their ability to give. What a tragedy! 

In part of learning to give we must also be able to receive. Not being greedy by any means but to be able to accept humbly and to be able to give humbly. We are all called to serve and to give, and if we refuse to accept the gifts of others we are taking away their gifts and their service. Service should come out of need, friendship, and love. 

If you see a homeless person on the side of the street, do not just simply drop money in their cups or simply hand them food. Rather, talk to them, hear their story, and discover what their true needs are so that you may provide for what they really need. Most of the time it is not just food or money, but they need people to talk to and to encourage them. Listen and act out of love. Also, ask them to pray for you and open up doors of service and giving. Provide for them in their needs, not what you think their needs are. Pray for them and allow them to pray for you. 


I think that it is important to understand that the most important thing that we have to offer to anyone is not our money, our time, or our belongings, but it is encouragement, prayer, and Jesus Christ our savior. That is what we truly have to offer.