The Extravagant Life
We have known of those who live what we would call extravagant lives. What immediately comes to mind is a life of opulent surroundings, including mansions, boats and airplanes. We know of others who spend extravagantly on clothes, travel, hobbies or sports activities. This type of life would be called lavish or excessive. The dictionary describes extravagance as “going beyond what is reasonable, suitable or necessary.” It may be surprising, then, to recall that what was considered by some to be extravagant was highly commended by our Lord. It was an occasion of excess, it was lavish, and it was not reasonable even to Jesus’s disciples. The story, as told in the Gospel of Matthew, is as follows. “While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of man known as Simon the leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. ‘Why this waste,’ they asked. ‘This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.’” “I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also told, in memory of her.” (Matthew 26:6-8,13)
In the scriptures we also find other examples of excess beyond what is reasonable or necessary. “And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able and even beyond their ability.” (II Corinthians 8:1-3) Amazing. Extreme poverty, most severe trial, and yet producing gifts beyond their ability. Extravagant!
We see, in the life of Job, a case of extravagant trust when faced with the loss of his children, his property, his reputation, his health, and was surrounded by friends who were his accusers. Despite all this, the comment of Job was “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him.” (Job 13:15) He says the following in Job 23:8-10. “But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him. When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him. But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” Although Job could not see God in any of his troubles, he was certain that God saw him, was taking care of him and would accomplish what was best for him. His trust was extravagant because his rest was in the person of God instead of just the provisions of God.
The life of David was one of constant demands on his time. The wars, as well as the requirements of the supervision of a vast kingdom were always on his to-do list. There was no end to the many activities that needed to occupy his time. Yet, he focused on one activity, and one Person. “One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4) He was extravagant in the use of his time simply to seek the LORD and to be with HIm.
One of the most striking areas of extravagance was in the worship offered to the LORD by Habakkuk. When told of the desolation and destruction of his country, his response was as follows. “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no castle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.” (Habakkuk 3:17-19)
It is easy to praise God when everything is going well with our lives and our ministry. What about the times when people won’t listen? What do we do when the message God has called us to deliver is rejected? What is our response when those with whom we have spent most of our time remain unmoved and distant from God? Our Lord experienced all of these thoughts and feelings, as expressed in Matthew 11:20-26. The towns in which the Lord had spent much of His time included Korazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. These towns were singled out specifically as those who did not repent. (Mathew 11:20) The response of Jesus was as follows. “At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.” (Matthew 11:25) Such praise, in the mind of many, may seem excessive, unnecessary, and going beyond what is reasonable.
All of the above accounts demonstrate an extravagant life. They include praise to God when the ministry He has given to us is seemingly unsuccessful. The list contains worshiping in the face of imminent disasters we face in our lives and in our country. The seeking of time alone with God and making Him the priority of our lives when faced with the many demands of life is extravagant as well. These passages contain the story of those, who, in the face of poverty, demonstrated rich generosity going beyond what was reasonable, suitable or necessary. We also see, in this list, one who has reached the depths of his life. He has found the very bottom of his existence, and, yet there, his faith in God is still affirmed. He knew that when he reached the bottom, he was in the arms of God. “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” (Deut 33:27)
Everyone has faced situations in our lives that are similar to those mentioned in the scriptures. If we haven’t yet experienced them in the past, then we will in the future. We may lack financial resources, become incredibly busy in our lives, face extreme disappointments and failures in our ministry, experience significant health issues with no hope of resolution, and have challenges in our lives for which there is no solution. When those occur, the Lord invites us to lead an extravagant life.
Are we able to worship like Habakkuk?, praise God like Jesus did?, spend time with God like David?, be generous like the Macedonian churches?, and trust God like Job? There is only a small window of time for us to live by faith in our lives. When we are with our LORD, all worship, praise and thanksgiving will be done by sight. It will be easy and natural for us to do these things when we are with Him. What is most pleasing to God, however, is the extravagance of trust, praise, worship, time and generosity that is manifest to Him, by faith, in our lives during the time that we have left. (Hebrews 11:6) May the Lord give us all a closer glimpse of His beauty, glory and grandeur which will generate an extravagant life in each one of us.
In Christ, Richard Spann