Mark 14:5 reads, “More than a year’s wages.”
It’s possible the alabaster jar of perfume represented every penny of this woman’s life savings. The value is evidenced by the fact that two gospel writers find it noteworthy enough to give us a written estimate: 300 denarii – the equivalent of an entire year’s salary.
Let’s get down to brass tacks. For most of us, the alabaster jar of perfume is money. It’s our nest egg. It’s our paycheck. It’s our retirement fund. And the question is this: are you willing to give it all away? We’re not suggesting you should not pay your bills or plan for your future or take care of your family. But if God prompted you to give it all away, would you be willing to break your alabaster jar and pour it all at the feet of Jesus?
During his lifetime, John Wesley gave away approximately 30,000 pounds. Adjusted for inflation, that’s more than $1,764,705.88 in today’s dollars. Wesley made a covenant with God in 1731 to limit his income to 28 pounds a year. But the first year he made only 30 pounds, so he gave away just 2 pounds. The next year his income doubled, and because he managed to continue living on 28 pounds, he gave away 32 pounds.
He never had more than 100 pounds in his possession because he was afraid of storing up his earthly treasure. He believed God’s blessing should result in raising our standard of giving, not our standard of living. Even when his income rose to thousands of pounds, he lived simply and gave away all of his surplus money. He died with a few coins in his pocket, but a storehouse of treasure in heaven. Think about it!
© 2018 CE