Unappreciated Values in Christian Giving - Nov. 16th, 2025

Mark 14:3–9 KJV

3 And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. 4 And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? 5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. 6 And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. 7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. 8 She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. 9 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.

Introduction

In 1858 a scientific expedition passed through a region of the American West now known as the Grand Canyon. A young army lieutenant named Joseph Ives surveyed the barren rocks and deep chasms and wrote in his report, “This region is altogether valueless. It can be approached only from the south, and after entering it there is nothing to do but leave. Ours has been the first and doubtless will be the last party of whites to visit this profitless locality.” His expedition was the first, but history proved his prediction laughably wrong[1][2]. Far from being “valueless,” the Grand Canyon is now treasured by millions for its breathtaking beauty and grandeur. Lieutenant Ives simply failed to appreciate its true value.

Likewise, one day some of Jesus’ own followers failed to see the value of a generous act of devotion. The Gospel of Mark records that as Jesus was in Bethany just days before His crucifixion, a woman came to Him with an alabaster flask of very costly ointment and poured it on His head (Mark 14:3). The disciples saw this and indignantly complained that it was a waste, the perfume could have been sold for a large sum and the money given to the poor. But Jesus defended the woman. He said, “Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me” (Mark 14:6 KJV). And then He taught them the profound principle found in Mark 14:7-8 (KJV): “For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.” In other words, there was more happening in this woman’s act of giving than the disciples realized. What they called a “waste,” Jesus called a beautiful work.

From this incident we learn about some unappreciated values in Christian giving[3][4]. There are aspects of sincere, sacrificial giving that the world, and even many believers, often overlook or undervalue. Jesus highlighted these truths through the woman’s example. This morning, let us consider four such unappreciated values in Christian giving, so that we might learn to give to our Lord with the same love and devotion she showed.

I. The Extravagance of Love

The extravagance of love is one of the unappreciated values in Christian giving. The woman’s lavish gift revealed the depth of her love for Jesus. Consider the sheer extravagance of what she gave: an alabaster jar of perfume valued at three hundred pence (denarii), about a year’s wages for a laborer (cf. Mark 14:5). In today’s terms, we might imagine a \$30,000 bottle of fragrance being broken and poured out in one act of worship! To the disciples, it seemed an irrational waste. But to the woman, no gift was too expensive to express her devotion to Christ. Her heart overflowed with love, and love often leads to extravagant generosity.

Why would she “waste” so much on Jesus? Simply because she loved Him. Mark does not name the woman here, but John’s Gospel tells us this was Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Lazarus (John 12:3). Mary had experienced the grace and power of Christ, notably, Jesus had raised her brother from the dead not long before (John 11:43-44). Her profound gratitude and love for the Lord moved her to give her very best. In Luke’s Gospel, we read of another woman who anointed Jesus’s feet earlier in His ministry, a woman whose sins He had forgiven. Jesus explained that “her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little” (Luke 7:47 KJV). The principle is that great forgiveness inspires great love. Every Christian has received an immeasurable pardon from God. We love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). Thus, when we truly grasp the mercy of Christ in saving us, our love overflows, and one way we show that love is through giving. Mary’s extravagant offering flowed from a heart brimming with love and thankfulness.

Love, by its nature, is willing to go to extremes that cold reason might question. When a man or woman is deeply in love, they will give gifts they can hardly afford, sacrifice time and resources gladly, all to delight the one they love. A classic illustration of this principle is the story “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry. In that tale, a young husband and wife each sacrificially sold their most treasured possession to buy a Christmas gift for the other. The husband sold his family heirloom watch to buy expensive combs for his wife’s long, beautiful hair; meanwhile the wife cut and sold her hair to buy a chain for her husband’s watch. Materially speaking, their gifts became useless, a watch with no chain, combs with no long hair to adorn, but in reality, nothing was wasted. Each had given all they had to express love. It was extravagant and impractical in one sense, but it was beautiful because it was born of genuine love[5].

In the same way, Mary’s pouring out of her expensive ointment was an act of extravagant love. Others failed to grasp it, but Jesus understood and received it as love. Love “excuses” extravagance, that is, love makes sense of such extreme generosity. We don’t fault the Magi couple for being impractical; we admire their love. And Jesus did not fault Mary for “wasting” the perfume, He praised her, because He saw that it was the overflow of a devoted heart. Here is a lesson for us: True love for Christ will express itself in generous, even sacrificial giving. The world may never appreciate it. Some might ask why you give your hard-earned money to the church or spend your free time serving others without pay. They might call it a waste. But if your giving is motivated by genuine love for Jesus, He calls it a “good work” and a beautiful thing. The extravagance of love in giving is precious to God, though it is often an unappreciated value in the eyes of the world.

II. The Worth of Benevolence

The worth of benevolence is another unappreciated value in Christian giving. “Benevolence” here means doing good for others, the kindness and charity that flow from giving. The indignant disciples objected to the woman’s act because they could only see the monetary value of the perfume. “Why was this waste of the ointment made?” they scolded[6]. To them, it was all about the money: “This could have been sold for 300 pence and given to the poor!” (cf. Mark 14:4-5). They judged the gift by its market price and concluded it wasn’t worth it. In their minds, the value of that jar of ointment lay in how many denarii it could fetch. But in God’s economy, the true value of a gift is measured by its purpose and the love behind it, not merely by its price tag.

Jesus thus challenged the disciples to see a different kind of worth. He said, “You always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish, you can do them good; but you do not always have Me” (Mark 14:7). This was not a callous dismissal of the poor, in fact, Jesus was echoing Deuteronomy 15:11, which says, “For the poor shall never cease out of the land,” and that verse goes on to command generosity toward the poor. Jesus cares for the poor deeply, but He also knew that the opportunity to honor Him in person was unique at that moment. The disciples’ objection, while seemingly concerned with charity, missed the higher good that was being done. Mary was not throwing the ointment away; she was doing a noble deed, anointing the Messiah for His soon-coming death and burial. In Jesus’ eyes, the worth of this benevolent act was immense, though it couldn’t be calculated in shillings and pence. He said, “She hath wrought a good work on me” (Mark 14:6). Here we learn that we must not judge expenditures for the Lord’s work by the same metrics used in business. The question to ask about a gift to God is not “How much will this bring in return?” but rather “What will this do?”[7]. In the church, a seemingly extravagant expense or act of service is justified if it brings glory to Christ or blessing to others in His name. A beautifully furnished house of worship, a generous love offering, a costly outreach effort, these may not make sense to a cynical accountant, but if they lead to souls saved and hearts touched by God’s love, their value is immeasurable.

The disciples asked if the money could have been better spent on the poor. It’s true that 300 denarii could have bought food for many hungry families. But would it actually have been used for that? The sad reality is that the one who raised this objection most fervently, Judas Iscariot, had no genuine concern for the poor. The Apostle John tells us that Judas said, “Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?” not because he cared for the poor, “but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.” (John 12:5-6 KJV)[8][9]. Judas was pilfering from the disciples’ money box; his pious-sounding protest was a cover for his own greed. The truth is, those who complained "this money should have gone to the poor" were not truly concerned for the poor at all. Judas, for example, was exploiting the situation for his own gain. Jesus noted that “whensoever ye will ye may do them good” (Mark 14:7), in other words, opportunities to help the poor are always present if one really cares to do it. The disciples had many chances to give to the poor already. Their sudden protest was misplaced.

Beyond the question of Judas’s hypocrisy, consider the broader impact of Mary’s gift. Jesus knew that her one act of generosity would spark inspiration for ages to come. “Verily I say unto you,” He declared, “Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her” (Mark 14:9 KJV). And indeed, here we are almost two thousand years later, still talking about what she did. That perfume, if sold, could indeed have fed many hungry people for a day. But this one act of worship has inspired countless people over the centuries to generosity and devotion (Hebrews 10:24). The encouragement that flows from a sincere act of giving is itself a precious value. One person’s unselfish gift can stir up many others to love and good works.

A pastor once told of a time his church had an urgent financial need. The congregation came forward freely with gifts. Among them was a little girl on crutches who placed a ring from her finger into the offering. Later, the pastor tried to return the ring, kindly explaining that the church had received sufficient funds and she need not give up her ring. But the little girl firmly answered, “I didn’t give that ring to you.”[10] In other words, she had given her treasure to God, not to man. The pastor then understood that to ask for it back was to miss the point of her giving.

That story illustrates the true worth of benevolence in giving. The value of our gifts to God is not solely in the material good they accomplish, though we certainly desire to help others, but also in the devotion and obedience they represent. That child’s ring probably had little market value, but in God’s eyes it was precious. Like the poor widow in the temple who cast in two small coins, yet was praised by Jesus for giving “more than all” the rich because she gave all she had (Mark 12:43-44), the significance of a gift is measured by the love, sacrifice, and faith attached to it. Mary’s costly perfume did indeed do something: it honored the Son of God in preparation for His burial, and it became an everlasting testimony of selfless devotion. Generations of believers have been strengthened and inspired by it. Such outcomes cannot be measured in dollars. When we give to the Lord, whether it is our money, our time, or our talents, we are investing in eternal dividends. Human onlookers might not appreciate it; they may even criticize it as foolish. But God sees the heart and the ultimate impact. The worth of benevolent giving in His kingdom far exceeds its apparent cost.

III. The Acceptance of Opportunity

The acceptance of opportunity is another unappreciated value in Christian giving. One reason Jesus commended Mary’s act is that she seized a fleeting opportunity to serve Him. He said, “Me ye have not always” (Mark 14:7). His physical presence on earth was soon to end. In fact, within that very week He would be crucified. Mary may not have fully understood that Jesus was about to die, yet she did what she could at the moment she had. As Jesus interpreted it, “She is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying” (Mark 14:8). In ancient Jewish culture, anointing a body with spices and ointment was part of the burial custom (cf. John 19:40). Usually this was done after a person had died. But consider: Jesus died a criminal’s death on the cross, and He was buried in haste before the Sabbath. On Resurrection morning, some women came to the tomb with spices to anoint His body, but they found the tomb empty. They never got to perform that act of love and respect for their Lord’s body. Mary of Bethany, however, had already anointed Him beforehand, “for the burying,” while He was still alive to feel the warmth of her devotion. She took the opportunity when it presented itself, not knowing if she would get another. And indeed, she would not. In that sense, her timing was providential and poignant. How it must have comforted our Lord Jesus, in the shadow of the cross, to receive that sweet expression of love when He did.

There is an important lesson here: opportunities to do good, to give, or to serve may be brief, and we dare not take them for granted. The poor, Jesus said, “you have always.” There would be ample opportunities in the future to give alms to the poor, and Christians should, whenever possible. But Jesus Himself would not be physically present much longer. The opportunity to personally give Him honor was “now or never.” Mary recognized (perhaps by the Spirit’s prompting) that this was the moment to pour out her gift. The disciples did not grasp the urgency, but Jesus did. He implies that if Mary had not done this when she did, the chance would be lost forever[11][12]. In our lives, God brings us windows of opportunity to give or to serve that may never repeat themselves. It could be an opportunity to help a person in crisis, to contribute to a mission project, or to share the gospel with someone whose heart is open. We should be ready to respond when the time is ripe. “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men” (Galatians 6:10 KJV). If we fail to seize the moment, we may later regret it.

We do not know what tomorrow may bring (Proverbs 27:1), and our life is but a vapor (James 4:14). Thus, “to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17 KJV). When God puts an opportunity in front of us, failing to seize it is not just a loss, it is disobedience. How often have we looked back and said, “I wish I had acted while I had the chance”? Perhaps you regret not giving to a worthy cause when it was presented, or not spending time with someone who is now gone, or not serving in a ministry when you felt the tug on your heart. We do not always get a second chance. Jesus said, “the night cometh, when no man can work” (John 9:4 KJV). Our lives on earth are limited; Christ will return or call us home, and our season for earthly labor will end. Let us “redeem the time” (Ephesians 5:16), make the most of the time and opportunities God gives. Mary’s example teaches us to accept the opportunity to give to the Lord when it arises. Such timely generosity may not be appreciated by others at the moment, but it is precious in God’s sight and often accomplishes more than we know.

A poignant illustration of a missed opportunity comes from the life of the writer Thomas Carlyle. He truly loved his wife, Jane, but he rarely showed it. Absorbed in work and often irritable, he neglected to demonstrate his affection. Jane fell ill and died unexpectedly. Only after her death, when Carlyle read her diary, did he realize how lonely and hurt she had been by his inattention. He was overwhelmed with remorse, crying out at her graveside words to the effect of, “If only I could see her once more, just for five minutes, to tell her I loved her!”[13]. But it was too late. The chance to show his love was gone forever, and he lived with that regret.

We do not want regrets like that when it comes to serving the Lord and others. Christian giving allows us to act while we have the opportunity[14]. Is God prompting your heart to give your time, your money, or your attention to something or someone right now? Don’t put it off for a “more convenient” time. The opportunity for that specific ministry may not always be there. Jesus said, “the night comes when no one can work.” Our own lives and circumstances change quickly; doors open and then shut. If God is nudging you to meet a need or support a work today, take that opportunity. You will not regret what you do for Christ, but you may deeply regret it if you let the chance slip away.

IV. The Exercise of Ability

The exercise of ability is also one of the unappreciated values in Christian giving. Jesus summed up His praise of Mary’s deed by saying, “She hath done what she could” (Mark 14:8). What a commendation! It tells us that God does not expect us to give or do what we cannot, but He does expect us to do what we can. The unappreciated truth here is that every disciple has something they can do for the Lord, and even if it seems small by human standards, it matters greatly when offered to Christ. Mary might not have been able to preach powerful sermons to large crowds like Peter or John, but she could pour out her ointment in devotion. And Jesus honored her for that. In fact, He honored her above His own disciples at that moment, because while they held back, she acted.

Often, we fall into the trap of dreaming about hypothetical great things we could do for God while neglecting the real, ordinary things we can do. We say, “If only I had great wealth, I would fund huge charitable projects,” but we fail to give faithfully from the modest income we do have. Or “If I were a famous evangelist, I would preach to thousands,” but we hesitate to share Christ with our neighbor or teach a Sunday School class. We would volunteer for overseas missions, perhaps, but won’t lift a hand for local outreach. It’s been well said that many are willing to do what they cannot do, but not willing to do what they can do[15][16]. Jesus does not measure us by the size of our abilities or gifts, but by how we use what we have. Recall the parable of the talents: the servants were rewarded or rebuked not based on how much they were initially given, but on whether they faithfully invested it (Matthew 25:14-29). The Lord expects us to exercise the abilities and opportunities we have, however humble. Mary “did what she could,” and that meant everything to Jesus.

As the apostle Paul taught, if there is first a willing mind, the gift is accepted according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have (2 Corinthians 8:12). God is pleased when we give out of whatever resources we have. No one is too poor or too insignificant to have something to offer. On the other hand, there are those who have been blessed with great resources or talents, yet “hide them under a bushel” or use them only for themselves. What a tragedy to have much that you could do for God’s kingdom, yet do none of it. The Lord would rather have the two mites from a willing widow than hoards of wealth from a selfish heart.

A story from the ministry of Dr. Norman Vincent Peale illustrates how doing what we can in giving can unlock spiritual growth. Peale wrote of a well-dressed, successful man who came into his office seeking counsel. Though wealthy, this man was unhappy and spiritually restless. In their conversation, Dr. Peale learned that the man had never been involved in church and avoided giving to any charity or cause, he hoarded his money. Sensing the root of the problem, Peale challenged him: “I want you to start tithing, give 10% of your income to the Lord’s work.” The man balked at this idea, unsure he could go through with it. As they talked, the man mentioned he and his wife were about to take a luxury vacation to Europe that would cost around \$10,000. Peale pointed out, “A tithe of that would be \$1,000. Why not start there? Give \$1,000 to help someone else, and then take your trip with the rest.” The man was unconvinced but said he would think about it. Sometime later, Dr. Peale received a letter and a check from London, the man had indeed given \$1,000 while on his trip[17][18]. But the story doesn’t end there. Upon returning home, that wealthy traveler sought out a church in his hometown of Chicago. He started attending, got involved, and eventually became an active Christian, finding the joy and purpose that had eluded him. And it all began with one step of obedience in giving. Once he did what he could do, write that check, God began to change his heart and direct his life.

This story shows that giving is often the entry point to a deeper work of God in our lives. Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21 KJV). When we invest our treasure in God’s kingdom, our heart follows. That man’s \$1,000 gift was something he was capable of doing, and when he finally did it, his heart started to shift from worldly pursuits to eternal ones. In a similar way, when we choose to use our abilities, our time, and our money for God, even in seemingly small ways, He takes that and multiplies it. The simple willingness to “do what you can” is of great worth. It may be unappreciated by those who idolize big numbers and dramatic feats, but in heaven it is highly valued. The Lord can do great things with our humble offerings. We have seen how Jesus took a few loaves and fishes from a boy and used them to feed thousands, what might He do with the little we offer? Bring your gift to Him, and let Him use it as He sees fit.

Before we leave this point, note that Jesus memorialized Mary not for doing something spectacular that others couldn’t do, but simply for doing what she could. This means each of us should ask: what is it that I can do for Christ that perhaps no one else can do in my place? It could be a person in need that I am uniquely positioned to help. It could be a calling to serve in a specific capacity in my local church. It could be an ability or skill God has given me that I can employ for ministry. It might even be a one-time gift or act of worship like Mary’s. Whatever it is, if I have the capacity to do it, I ought to, for the glory of God. We may not receive human accolades for it; indeed, Mary was criticized at first, but Jesus sees and values it. The exercise of our God-given ability in giving and serving is a value that we must not neglect, even if others do.

Conclusion

The world may not appreciate the true value of giving to God. Many see only the cost or call it a “waste.” But Jesus shows us that sincere, sacrificial giving carries precious qualities that God esteems, even if the world overlooks them. In Mary’s act we observe love’s extravagance, benevolence’s impact, timely opportunity, and the willingness to do what one can, all values the world may undervalue, but which Christ commends and uses for His glory.

As we close, let us each examine our own heart in giving. Do I give grudgingly or gladly, as a mere obligation or as an act of love? Am I clinging to something that the Lord is asking me to yield to Him, a treasure, time, or talent? Remember, our Lord is worthy of our very best. He gave His very best for us. Just days after Mary’s anointing, Jesus poured out the most extravagant gift of all, His own blood on the cross, to save us. “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9 KJV).

Love so amazing, so divine, demands our soul, our life, our all.

Scripture even likens such gifts to a fragrant offering that pleases God (Philippians 4:18). Mary’s perfume wasn’t the only sweet aroma in Bethany that day, her sacrifice of love was a sweet savour to the Lord. May our giving likewise rise as a pleasing aroma to Him. Let us embrace these unappreciated values in giving, trusting that our Father who sees in secret will reward openly (Matthew 6:4). After all, Jesus promised, “Give, and it shall be given unto you” (Luke 6:38 KJV).

Ultimately, the only way to truly discover the hidden joy in giving is to do it. Our Lord challenges us to step out in faith and see for ourselves the blessing that follows. So I urge you: be generous with your love, your resources, and your service to Christ. Pour yourself out for the Savior who poured Himself out for you. You will find your soul enriched in the very act of giving. “There are some unappreciated values in Christian giving. Give, and those values will become apparent to you.”[19] Amen.

HYPERLINK "file://file_000000003cf0720cb3cda0e5cd5e7c64" \l ":~:text=In%201858%20a%20scientific%20expedition,%E2%80%9D" \h[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [7] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] Crabtree, T. T._The Zondervan 2025 Pastor’s Annual- An Idea and Resource Book.docx

file://file_000000003cf0720cb3cda0e5cd5e7c64

[6] [8] [9] 13 Mk14-Lk8.docx

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1t1j4-zsCmp3En4eSLERIMASNkco8NtLJ