The Life Lesson of a Quarter

He was embarrassed when he looked at the table as all the pastors left.  The town pastors had met for the monthly breakfast at the local café.  The only tip left for the waitress of the large group was one quarter, 25 cents!  This single event is the foundation of our family principle, always leave a generous tip.   I’ve seen evidence that my adult child continues to live by the principle.  In a small town, ungenerous behavior can harm our reputation.  In a larger setting it may not be reputation building to leave a generous tip, but it should be an opportunity to bless a hardworking, under paid server.

In Mark 14: 1-11, Jesus received a very generous anointing from a woman.  She came to the table where He was reclining and anointed His head with very expensive perfume.  Others at the table chastised her, claiming she wasted the perfume.  It could have been sold to feed the poor they explained.  Jesus defended her.  He replied that when the gospel is preached her action will be memorialized.  He even began His reply with “I tell you the truth…”

This woman’s gift demonstrated her devotion to Jesus in the purest sense.  She had no regard for the expense of the gift.  She had no regard other’s opinion of her gift.  The focus of her gift was Jesus, and only Jesus.

Two other times in the gospel of Mark, Jesus makes a promise that His witness will be shown through our generosity by beginning His statement with “I tell you the truth…”  In Mark 9:41 He tells us to give in His Name and in Mark 12:43 He announces the poor widow gave more than other rich people.  The world tries to limit generosity but Jesus presents just the opposite. 

These eleven verses in Mark present Jesus’ generous kingdom as the opposite of the earthly limited kingdom.  The verses begin with the religious leaders planning war against Jesus while Jesus peacefully reclines at the dinner table of a leper.  Jesus contrasts the woman’s selfless gift with the selfish attitude of the dinner companions who had disagreed with her use of expensive perfume.  This selfless woman stands in stark contrast to selfish Judas who resolved to watch for an opportunity to turn Jesus over to the religious leaders.

Generosity is a lasting quality and it’s about more than money.  I am called to be generous with my time, my talents, my money, my love, my value of others.  It is giving from all we have without concern for the earthly expense.  The focus of our generosity is love for God, and God alone.

The world tries to limit generosity but Jesus presents just the opposite.  Jesus gave us a generous gift of redemption.  He rescues us from a life of sin and frees us to a rich eternal life with Him.  Will my generosity show others my devotion to Jesus Christ as Lord?