Listen to the loud jangling noise of the many coins crashing to the bottom of the trumpet-shaped receptacles attached to the walls in the court of the women in the Jewish Temple. There were thirteen such containers to catch the cash.
There was a steady stream of donors dropping off their cash contributions. With their polished noses held high, they confidently strutted up to the temple while the chauffeur-driven chariots idled outside. Then there was the deliberate opening of their purses for all to see, and then, slowly they dropped their contributions into the container – feeling much better if others noticed.
The Lord Jesus was quietly observing the rich drop off their donations. Everyone else was amazed by such displays of generosity. But they were unable to see what Jesus saw. He knew not only what they gave but what they didn’t give. And He still knows today.
Characterizing the woman as a senior hobbling into the temple may be pure conjecture on our part. Perhaps she didn’t have a wrinkled face, calloused hands, arched back, twisted arthritic fingers or wobbly ankles either. She may have been a younger widow with children at home. Jesus watched her arrive. He knew her cupboards were bare, and the plates on her little kitchen table were cleaned off. But here she was – coming to give. To the container, she went. From her hand dropped the only two mites she had – small copper coins which were the smallest money denomination in use at the time – an eighth of a cent.
Jesus called his disciples over to Him and said:
“Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” Mark 12:43-44 ESV
As Eugene Peterson paraphrased the text: “All these others made offerings that they’ll never miss: she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford – she gave her all!”
Do I give until it hurts? When a need arises in the local assembly or in the work of the Lord, or in the community, do I dig deep enough that it actually affects my bottom line – giving to the point where it has a material impact on my reserves? What about you? Do you restrict your giving to ten percent of your earnings? Do you think you would be spiritually poorer if you gave twenty percent? If I can’t feel the impact of giving to the Lord – is it really a sacrifice?
Abraham gave until it hurt in the deepest chambers of his heart. He gave his son Isaac to the altar. This widow gave all she had and could only look to the Lord to provide food for the next meal. The suffering Christians in Macedonia, despite their deep poverty, joyfully sent a gift to the Christians in Jerusalem. (2Cor.8:1-5). And let us not forget about the One who was rich, yet for our sakes, He became poor.
According to Heaven’s estimation, the widow brought a sacrifice to the Lord. The others made a donation. God places an infinitely higher value on sacrifices than on donations.
Dr. Joseph Parker put it rather starkly but eloquently: “The gold of affluence which is given because it is not needed, God hurls to the bottomless pit; but the copper tinged with blood He lifts and kisses into the gold of eternity.”
How much am I giving? Early in your Christian life, establish a sacrificial pattern of giving. When did you last give something to the Lord that required you
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to literally change your purchasing plans or priorities? College students, young parents, middle-agers, seniors and all the rest of us – regardless of income levels and pressing priorities, we should be making sacrifices to the Lord regularly if we are living lives of indebtedness to Christ.
Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today.
Warmly in Christ,
Peter Ramsay
Becoming a Christian #6 – 7 Short Video Series
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