Givers and Takers
Givers and takers see Jesus very differently. Discover from Mary and Judas how a generous heart grows when we give Christ our very best. In John 12, two people sit in the same room with the same Savior. One pours out her most precious treasure at His feet. The other quietly calculates what he can take. Today, let’s look closely at both hearts and ask the Lord which one looks most like ours.
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Opening Worship Song
This beautiful song tells the story of a woman who broke open her alabaster box and poured out everything she had on Jesus. It captures the costly, wholehearted love of Mary that sits at the center of today’s devotion.
https://youtu.be/pgh0sNtssEo?si=2fY2w4uWNUbRqJfh
Scripture Focus
Six days before the Passover, Jesus shared a meal in Bethany with Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. There, Mary offered Him an extraordinary gift.
“Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”
John 12:3 (ESV)
Not everyone in the room shared her love. Judas responded very differently.
“But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, ‘Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?’ He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.”
John 12:4–6 (ESV)
The apostle Paul reminds us what kind of giving pleases the Lord.
“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
2 Corinthians 9:7 (ESV)
Every blessing we enjoy flows from the generous heart of God.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
James 1:17 (ESV)
Jesus described the greatest gift of all.
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
John 15:13 (ESV)
Then He practiced exactly what He preached.
“even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:28 (ESV)
With these passages before us, let’s consider what it means to live as a giver rather than a taker.
Life Application
Two Questions Every Heart Asks
Every morning, our hearts quietly ask one of two questions. The first is, “What is in this for me?” The second is, “How can I help?” Although we rarely say these words out loud, they shape nearly everything we do. In fact, they reveal whether we are living as givers and takers.
Our thoughts do not begin in our heads. Instead, they flow from our spirits. Proverbs reminds us that the way we think in our hearts shapes who we become. As a result, what fills the heart eventually shows up in our choices, our words, and our wallets.
Mary Gave Her Best
Mary looked at Jesus and saw her Savior. Consequently, nothing seemed too valuable to pour out at His feet. Her ointment was worth about three hundred denarii, which was nearly a full year’s wages for a working man. Yet she did not count the cost. She broke open her treasure, and the whole house filled with its fragrance.
Notice, too, how humbly she gave. She knelt at His feet and wiped them with her hair. Mary was not seeking applause. Rather, she simply loved Jesus and wanted Him to have her best.
Judas Looked for What He Could Take
Judas sat in the same room and looked at the same Jesus. However, he saw something entirely different. Instead of a Savior to worship, he saw an opportunity to profit. His complaint sounded generous, but John tells us the truth. Judas cared about the money bag, not the poor.
That is the sobering lesson here. Two people can stand close to Jesus and still have very different hearts. One asks, “What can I give Him?” Meanwhile, the other asks, “What can I get from Him?”
Jesus, the Greatest Giver
Thankfully, our story does not end with Judas. It ends with Jesus. Every good and perfect gift comes down from our heavenly Father, and His greatest gift is His Son. Jesus did not come to be served. Instead, He came to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.
Our Lord practiced what He preached. He told His disciples that no one has greater love than the one who lays down his life for his friends. Then He went to the cross and did exactly that. Because Jesus gave everything, we are free to give generously too.
Becoming a Cheerful Giver Today
So how do we move from taking to giving? First, we begin with gratitude. When we remember what Christ has given us, our grip on everything else loosens. Paul reminds us that God loves a cheerful giver, not a reluctant one.
Next, look for simple ways to give today. Perhaps you can offer your time to a lonely neighbor. Maybe you can encourage a tired coworker, forgive a hurtful word, or support a ministry with your resources. A phone call, a meal, or a quiet prayer can become a precious gift.
Finally, remember that giving is not about the size of the gift. It is about the heart behind it. Mary gave what she had because she loved Jesus. Likewise, we give because He first gave Himself for us.
Among givers and takers, choose today to be a giver. Commit to give more than you receive, and watch how the fragrance of your love points others to Jesus.
Words of Wisdom
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”
— Jim Elliot, missionary martyr (journal entry, October 28, 1949)
Mary understood this truth. Her perfume would not last, but her love for Jesus is still remembered today.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for every good and perfect gift You have poured into my life. Most of all, thank You for Jesus, who gave His life for me. Forgive me for the times I have asked, “What is in this for me?” Give me a heart like Mary’s, one that holds nothing back from You. Open my eyes to the people around me who need help, kindness, and encouragement today. Make me a cheerful giver, Lord, and let my life carry the fragrance of Christ wherever I go. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Closing Worship Song
This joyful Gaither favorite reminds us that love is meant to be shared, and that whatever we pour out for others God faithfully returns in blessing. It is the perfect send-off as you commit to give more than you receive today.
Grow Deeper Every Day
Good morning! As you commit to give more than you receive today, keep exercising your spiritual muscles in God’s Word. Subscribe to DevotionsDoneDaily and start each morning with Scripture, worship, and encouragement.
The cost is zero…the value is priceless and eternal.
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Sources & Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments
We thank:
- Pixabay for free, high-quality artwork.
- AZ Quotes for inspirational quotations.
- YouTube Gospel Music for timeless worship songs.
- We recommend GotQuestions.org for further Bible study.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Have a wonderful day and keep your eyes on Jesus and your spirits high.
Johnny
“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” — Proverbs 23:7 (KJV