As I came back from the office that day, I carried my son as I usually do. But I noticed he appeared bathed in some perfume. When I enquired from the mum, I got to know he’s been playing with some perfume bottles. He had wasted some portion. I immediately remembered the way Mary broke her Alabaster box as recorded in the Bible.
Friend, you need to break your alabaster box. God does not want us to live a life of shortage but a life that super abounds. While some people live a life of not enough, others live a life of just enough, but God wants His children to live a life of more than enough. This is what abundant life means; a life that is superior in quality and super abundant in quantity (John 10:10).
The Alabaster box story, as recorded in the gospels, is a very instructive one. The disciples of Jesus considered Mary’s ‘overflowing life’ as a waste, but she saw it as the way to live. Breaking her alabaster box and pouring the oil on Jesus was her response to the abundance of mercy she had received (Luke 7:37-48). This is a principle for life and living (Luke 6:38)
Although we have used the above scripture to talk about giving offerings and tithes, etc., it is not originally talking about this (even though it can be so used). Beyond money, Jesus was talking about the way to have, in abundance, what we lack in our lives. The way to have what you lack (and want to have) is by giving the same.
What you withhold is what you would not experience. If you withhold love, you cannot get it. If you withhold mercy and help from others, mercy would be far from you (Proverbs 3:3-4, Matthew 5:7). To receive favour, learn to show favour to others. Whereas the world teaches us to always want to get, the kingdom teaches us to always want to give (Proverbs 11:24).
God wants us to be proactive, not reactive. He wants us to trigger our receiving by our giving. He wants us to do unto others as we want them to do to us (Luke 6:31). He wants us to have an abundance mentality that causes us to give, not a scarcity or entitlement mentality. It is what you make happen for others that God will make happen for you. Break your alabaster box!
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria