Extravagance

Examples of sinful extravagance

Wastefulness

Luke 15:13 NRSV

A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living.

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Drunkenness and gluttony

Proverbs 23:20 NRSV

Do not be among winebibbers, or among gluttonous eaters of meat;

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The results of sinful extravagance

Wastefulness leads to poverty

Luke 15:14–17 NRSV

When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger!

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Extravagant living leads to spiritual complacency

Luke 12:19–20 NRSV

And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’

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The alternative to sinful extravagance

Thankful enjoyment of God’s gifts

1 Timothy 4:3–4 NRSV

They forbid marriage and demand abstinence from foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, provided it is received with thanksgiving;

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Stewardship of God’s blessings

Ezekiel 34:18–19 NRSV

Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, but you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture? When you drink of clear water, must you foul the rest with your feet? And must my sheep eat what you have trodden with your feet, and drink what you have fouled with your feet?

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Discipline and self-control

1 Corinthians 9:25–27 NRSV

Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one. So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air; but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified.

See also ; fasting; abstinence from certain foods; temporary abstinence from sexual relationships

Examples of commendable extravagance in worship

Mark 14:3–5 NRSV

While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head. But some were there who said to one another in anger, “Why was the ointment wasted in this way? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her.

See also gifts for the tabernacle; David dancing before the ark

Gifts for the temple:

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Extravagance in praise and thanksgiving:

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The widow’s offering:

Mark 12:41–44 NRSV

He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Examples of extravagance not commended in worship

Extravagant offerings are no substitute for doing what God requires.

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Other examples of commendable extravagance

Extravagance in caring for others

2 Corinthians 8:2–4 NRSV

for during a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means, and even beyond their means, begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints—

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Extravagance in forgiveness

Matthew 18:21–22 NRSV

Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.

See also ; the king’s generosity in forgiving his servant’s debt; celebrations at the return of the prodigal son

Warnings against failing to be extravagant towards God and others

Stinginess cheats God:

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Stinginess denies others:

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Stinginess results in personal loss:

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The extravagance of God’s grace

The gift of his Son

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The blessings of God’s salvation

Romans 8:32 NRSV

He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else?

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The abundance of God’s provision

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God’s blessings promised to the generous

Malachi 3:10 NRSV

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.

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