Mark 12:41-44
King James Version (KJV)
And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
As we enter into this season of giving, we can sometimes become over-stressed about finding just the right gift for those we love. We want it to be perfect as we search and search for just the right item. We become so uptight about it that we quite possibly lose the whole focus in our giving. Maybe there are times that we don’t care enough; just any old thing will do to fulfill an obligation. We give only because someone is giving to us.
Other times there are those that can even become prideful about the expense of their gift and it becomes all about how much one is able to spend and how good they look. The real meaning in giving is obviously lost.
When it comes to end of year giving, perhaps we are only giving for the tax write-off before the season ends and have no regard for the recipient at all.
But this passage assures us that God cares deeply about our giving. God looks on the heart; our intents and our purposes. Whether it is about what we are able to give to Him and His work, or even what we are able to give to others, God wants us to do it with the right heart attitude. If something is given with the wrong heart attitude, it is of no value at all.
In this case the poor widow gave more than all others because she gave all that she had to give – at the time a “mite” was worth about an eighth of a penny. The others cast in their excess, but the widow cast in her livelihood. God does not measure by human standards, but by standards that are all His own. It is a standard of sacrificial giving which we should seek to emulate in cheerfulness and love.
Refresh yourself this Christmas season, by remembering the widow, who gave all she had. But more importantly, let’s remember Jesus told us in her poverty, she gave more than all.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8
1 Samuel 16:7
King James Version (KJV)
And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
As we enter into this season of giving, we can sometimes become over-stressed about finding just the right gift for those we love. We want it to be perfect as we search and search for just the right item. We become so uptight about it that we quite possibly lose the whole focus in our giving. Maybe there are times that we don’t care enough; just any old thing will do to fulfill an obligation. We give only because someone is giving to us.
Other times there are those that can even become prideful about the expense of their gift and it becomes all about how much one is able to spend and how good they look. The real meaning in giving is obviously lost.
When it comes to end of year giving, perhaps we are only giving for the tax write-off before the season ends and have no regard for the recipient at all.
But this passage assures us that God cares deeply about our giving. God looks on the heart; our intents and our purposes. Whether it is about what we are able to give to Him and His work, or even what we are able to give to others, God wants us to do it with the right heart attitude. If something is given with the wrong heart attitude, it is of no value at all.
In this case the poor widow gave more than all others because she gave all that she had to give – at the time a “mite” was worth about an eighth of a penny. The others cast in their excess, but the widow cast in her livelihood. God does not measure by human standards, but by standards that are all His own. It is a standard of sacrificial giving which we should seek to emulate in cheerfulness and love.
Refresh yourself this Christmas season, by remembering the widow, who gave all she had. But more importantly, let’s remember Jesus told us in her poverty, she gave more than all.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8
1 Samuel 16:7
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