Giving

^{LUKE 7}

³⁷When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, ³⁸and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

³⁹When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is–that she is a sinner.”

⁴⁰Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me, teacher,” he said.

⁴¹“Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,^[d] and the other fifty. ⁴²Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he cancelled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

⁴³Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt cancelled.”

“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

⁴⁴Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. ⁴⁶You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. ⁴⁷Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven–for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”

⁴⁸Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

⁴⁹The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

⁵⁰Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

We can come to Jesus with so many requests, In the Bible, some people came for healing (Luke 7:1-9), while others came for knowledge (Matthew 23:34-35), some for food (John 6:26), others, to watch a miracle (Matthew 12:38)

But in Luke 7 we see a different image. What was the very first thing the women did when she came to Jesus? She didn’t ask for healing. She didn’t ask for a miracle. She didn’t ask for anything. She came with one desire and that was to GIVE.

She poured out her tears on his feet of all places. Our feet are not like other parts of the body. They are in the dirt all day stepping on who knows what and smelling like… You get the picture.

And with what did she use to dry her feet? She used her very hair off all things. Most people treat their hair better than the poor, (notice it said poor and not lazy). Do you know how many millions are spent on hair products? It’s a multi million-dollar industry. We spend money on things that we consider of great value. She would use her precious hair to wipe the feet of Jesus.

This was her initial response to Jesus. What is our response to Jesus? Sometimes we can be quite shallow with our relationship with him. We can go to Jesus with one desire and that is only to TAKE. I can hear it now, “Lord I need my nails clipped,” “Lord I need a bigger SUV and not the Escalade!” “Lord I need a prettier wife.” “Lord I need the latest IPOD” and so on….

This woman was far different! She GAVE and what was Jesus’ response? She was a giver and not a TAKER.

And God used the situation as and example to teach Peter,

“Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair…” (v44-47)

Do we have that attitude as well? Or are we just hollow takers? Are we willing to give to Jesus? Well the choice is ours…