From Brother Greg's Short Sermons
Mark 12:41-44 (NKJV)
“Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.’”
Jesus, placing Himself in a position to see clearly, observed the painful truth about some of the people of that day. Those who had much gave out of abundance, but none attracted His admiration like a poor widow woman who came along and dropped in two small coins, with very little value, into the treasury.
Could it be that the sound of such few coins with so little value, could capture the heart of Christ? Is it possible, that Jesus measures the worth of what is put into the treasury by what is not put in? Was Jesus teaching us that God measures by what one has left over, not about how much a person gives?
Jesus said, “…she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.” What is it that was so important to Jesus that He would summon His disciples for this teaching moment?
The unnamed widow woman was giving to the treasury based on what she believed, by faith. What she gave was not only for the needs of her local church, but also for the kingdom of God. The wealthy givers gave knowing they had something left over to provide for the basic necessities of life. The widow woman, who was poor and in need of the same necessities, gave all she had, believing that God would provide for her needs.
Matthew 6:28-30 says, “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”
The widow woman gave, knowing that the Lord would provide, knowing that if she would sacrifice all that she had, the Lord would not only bless her on this side of the grave, but also eternally. This type of sacrificial giving provides not only for the temple (church), but also her temple (her body).
Matthew 19:29 says, “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.”
Today, Jesus is in a place where He can see clearly… Do you give to your local church based on man’s standard or God’s standard? The next time you feel like what you have to offer is so little that it really doesn’t matter, remember these Scriptures. The sound of a few coins hitting the gift basket makes a greater noise and brings greater value than one may think.
Proverbs 11:25 says, “The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.”
Comments