Special Projects: “Big Jar” Giving

Research has shown that only about 9 percent of people’s assets are

liquid and could be contributed as an offering on a moment’s notice.

Cash, checking, savings, money market funds, and so on are generally

considered liquid assets, at least for those possessing things like this.

Most of our assets, about 91 percent, are “invested” in real estate, such

as our homes, our livestock (if we are rural), or other nonliquid items.

The differences in the percentages of liquid and nonliquid assets can

be illustrated by putting 1,000 pennies in two different glass jars, with 10

pennies representing each percentage point. So, you would have 90 pennies

in a small jar representing the 9 percent liquid assets and 910 pennies in a

large quart-size jar representing the 91 percent of nonliquid assets.

Most people give their offerings or contributions from the small

jar—from their liquid assets. This is what they have in their checking

account or pocketbook. But when someone really gets excited about

something, they give from the big jar. The Bible tells many such stories.

Read Mark 14:3–9 and John 12:2–8. Who were the main characters

at Simon’s feast? What was the value of Mary’s gift? Why did she

anoint Jesus at this time?

Mary’s gift was worth 300 denarii—a full year’s wages. It was, most

likely, a “big jar” gift. Following this incident, Judas betrayed Jesus for

a little more than one third of that amount—a “little jar” gift, 30 pieces

of silver (Matt. 26:15). It takes real love and commitment to make big

jar gifts—from our investments. But when we get greedy, like Judas,

we can sell our souls for next to nothing.

The work and activities of Barnabas are mentioned 28 times in the

New Testament. We know him primarily as a companion to the apostle

Paul and as a great missionary. But the foundation for all of this is estab-

lished in the first passage, where he is mentioned. In Acts 4:36, 37, we

read of his giving, truly, a “big jar” offering. What a powerful example

of Christ’s words: “ ‘For where your treasure is, there your heart will be

also’ ” (Matt. 6:21, NKJV).

Why is sacrificial giving as important for the givers as for the

recipients?