Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” – Luke 21:1-4 (ESV)
It was a busy week at the temple, with Passover celebrations in full swing. People were everywhere, and Jesus, after a long day of teaching and dealing with his critics, decided to sit down inside the temple and catch his breath. While resting, he started watching people putting money into the temple’s offering box. Rich folks were making quite the show of dropping in loads of cash. But then, something else caught Jesus’ eye. A poor widow came up and quietly slipped in two small coins.
To most people, her contribution probably seemed like nothing, especially compared to the big donors. But she was different; she gave everything she had.
Jesus, tired but always ready to teach an important lesson, pointed her out to his disciples. He said, “This poor widow has given more than all the others. They gave a tiny part of their wealth, but she, with hardly a penny to her name, gave everything she lived on.”
Another one of those beautiful moments when Jesus removes all of the glamour and glitz of a superficial world to reveal a basic truth…
Because truthfully, isn’t there more to giving than the ability to say, “I gave?” There’s an attitude, a spirit that Jesus is focusing on here. It’s not about the amount. True giving is measured not by what we give, but by what we hold back and keep for ourselves. And sometimes, giving means sacrifice. Anyone can give when there’s a surplus of money in the bank, but what about when there’s little to draw from and you need it for yourself?
Thought for Today:
How might our approach to giving change if we viewed every contribution, no matter how great or small, as a significant act of trust and devotion to God?
Former Blackout Artist 