Worth = Perspective

CG Offering

The New King James Version Chapter 14

3 And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. 4 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? 5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply.

6 But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. 7 For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. 8 She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. 9 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

The Message Chapter 3

Who do you think Paul is, anyway? Or Apollos, for that matter? Servants, both of us—servants who waited on you as you gradually learned to entrust your lives to our mutual Master. We each carried out our servant assignment. I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plants, but God made you grow. It’s not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the center of this process but God, who makes things grow. Planting and watering are menial servant jobs at minimum wages. What makes them worth doing is the God we are serving. You happen to be God’s field in which we are working.

The Message Chapter 3

I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plants, but God made you grow. It’s not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the center of this process but God, who makes things grow. Planting and watering are menial servant jobs at minimum wages. What makes them worth doing is the God we are serving. You happen to be God’s field in which we are working.

Today, I want to talk about worth.

How many of you are like me - when you read story like this, and you get very inspired, and you start writing dreams of how you want to do it 1 day, give $10k 1 day, bring 20 friends in a year, etc…?

While all that is good, the service is over, your life goes back to normal, you get hit by reality?

Unlimited work to do, limited time to spend, insufficient money to spend

How we wish, we have insufficient work to do, unlimited money to spend.

When rubber hits the road, will your inspiration faces perspiration.

So for me, I always have to answer this question, “is it worth it?”

When choosing a job, if it requires a lot of OT, weekend - is it worth it?

Even if you get increased pay - Is it worth it?

When you budget your finances, everything goes well, and God speaks to you about BF amount. We are starting BF season already! - Will you do it? Is it worth it?

Even last week, I withdrew money to honour our Senior Pastor during his birthday. To be honest, this question will pop up too - Is it worth it?

As I ponder, and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to me, the word “perspective” comes up to me. So can I s.

Worth is about perspective

Jesus died on the cross for my sins. Now we can encounter His love, His presence, His peace, church service - giving him a-tenth is definitely worth it.

People can starve just to lose weights, or go on their dream vacation

Pastors sacrificed so much and built heart of God church, which I can never be grateful enough.

Above more, I was personally blessed by Pastors to take my first plane trip to Australia, monetary blessings when I was poor and helpless. So giving back hundreds is definitely worth it as a token of appreciation to him.

Some people can spend $500 on a branded wallet / watch on themselves, for obvious reasons. I can never find it worth it. But its about perspective.

Running this church premise is a financial burden. But our vision is to be a youth church, built by young people for the young people. We are the reinforcements to the adults who have been sacrificing to build the previous premises for us to enjoy and encounter God. Now it is our turn to give and build for the next generations to come.

People can think of investment, insurance, buying a car which he seldom uses, risk losing these money.

Why can’t we invest in this building to build the next generation, which I believe is definitely 100% gain.

Pastors sacrificed so much and built heart of God church, which I can never be grateful enough.

Above more, I was personally blessed by Pastors to take my first plane trip to Australia, monetary blessings when I was poor and helpless. So giving back hundreds is definitely worth it as a token of appreciation to him.

Some people can spend $500 on a branded wallet / watch on themselves, for obvious reasons. I can never find it worth it. But its about perspective.

Same with your loved ones, are you willing to spend $200 to buy a flower on a random occasion just to surprise and love? Is it worth it? Or rather, are they worthy in your eyes?

In the same light, as we give our offering today, God is worthy. Just like the story of the woman with the alabaster flask. 300 denarii is 300 days’ wage.

Typical Singaporean earn $30-40k per year? That is the amount spent to anoint Jesus’s feet. Is it worth it?

Some bible scholars identify her as Mary Magdelene, the woman whom Christ had saved from 7 devils. If that is you, I am sure the spikenard is worth it, amen. And the truth is, we are all saved, not from 7 devils, but from the a life of sorrow, purposeless, and eternal hell. Jesus is worthy of our offerings and tithes!

Lets pray.