Three warriors took a twenty-five-mile roundtrip journey through enemy territory, and troops prepared for battle to retrieve a cool drink of water for their parched king. Instead of drinking it with gratitude, he poured it out. 

This, at first reading, does not make sense.

The devotion and bravery of these men is exemplary. Who do you have in your life who would travel twenty-five miles on foot at the risk of their lives to secure for you a cool drink of water? These men obviously loved and esteemed their king.

How could you drink such a precious treat when it was gained at the risk of the lifeblood of those who secured it? Who could ever honestly consider himself or herself worthy of such risk and reverence? King David turned their extravagant gift into an act of extravagant worship. He was deeply moved by such loyalty and friendship. 

Mark 14:3-9 tells a similar tale of extravagant sacrifice and worship. A woman, identified as Mary in John’s Gospel (12:1-8), took what was likely her most valuable possession and anointed Jesus with it. Everywhere Jesus went in those last days of his life, he carried the aroma of her gift. 

Reverence, often called “the fear of the LORD” in the Bible, moves us to behave in ways contrary to our grasping, hoarding tendencies. It makes us more like our Father in heaven who loved the whole world so much that he gave his one and only Son for our salvation (John 3:16). How do we know our discipleship has changed our lives at the deepest level? We give and live with extravagant generosity. 

How can you live a life of extravagant generosity and worship today?

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I will live a life of extravagant generosity and worship.

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Our Father, you have been extravagantly generous with me. Empower me to live a life of extravagant generosity and worship. As you have filled my life with good things, use those good things to enrich others walk with you. Amen.