What Can I Give?

I was recently reading a seven-day devotional series “Journey to the Cross” by Peter Greig. He began day one relating the story from Matthew 26:6-13 in which a lady came to Jesus and poured out a vial of very expensive perfume on His head. This was an extravagant act and she was criticized for “wasting” such a valuable item. Jesus replied to the disciples “Why are you bothering the woman? For she has done a good deed for Me. For you always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me.” She gave Jesus her best, her most valued possession. Reading between the lines she seemed to sense that the opportunity for her to show her love to Jesus was a window that was closing. After relating the story, Greig asked “What is the most valuable thing I could pour out on Jesus today? 

That question haunted me as I tried to consider what I could bring to Jesus. My thoughts originally moved toward tangible things – a house, a car, my retirement account. That was frustrating because I could not come up with a satisfactory answer. My thinking was in the wrong direction.

Sometimes when I am in bed sleeping, solutions come to me. When I was preparing tax returns and I was confronting a difficult issue, the answer would sometimes come  during the night. Other times the right decision on a matter will manifest itself. I believe being attuned to the Holy Spirit often helps me in these matters. I awoke this morning with the lyrics to a contemporary Christian song coming to me. The song is based on a poem written by Christina Rossetti in 1872 entitled  In the Bleak Midwinter.  In part, the poem reads 

“What can I give Him, poor as I am? 

If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; 

If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part; 

Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.”

When I first heard this song, I didn’t like it. I saw it as the speaker having a pity party. “Poor pitiful me.” Yet the words stayed with me. I was singing to myself a song I didn’t like. Then it dawned on me that this is not about a poor underprivileged person. It is not a pity party at all. It is the cry of a grateful soul aligning itself with the Creator God.

When I refocused, I realized that what I bring to God is not something tangible. He doesn’t need my stuff. As Psalm 50:10 reads “For every animal of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.” I can surrender myself to His will and His way. I can give Jesus the most precious thing I have. As the poem says, “I can give Him my heart.” It is much more than that. I can bring to Jesus  my exorbitant gratitude for loving me so much that He suffered on my behalf. That can be my unique gift.

Exorbitant is an interesting word, deep with meaning. The definition of the word is “unreasonably high.” Synonyms of exorbitant include excessive, extravagant, extreme, immoderate, inordinate. This implies a departure from accepted standards, going way beyond normal limits. 

This Easter, think about being exorbitant with our risen Lord. How are you going to demonstrate your exorbitant love for Him? He has done the same for you.  

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All scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible unless otherwise indicated.

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