The Widow’s Offering
41 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 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 12:41-44 ESV
This story of the Widow’s Offering is told by Jesus, and is repeated in Luke 21:1-4 as well. The story tells us that Jesus intentionally sat where he could see how much people were giving, and praised sacrificial giving over giving out of abundance.
Still to this day Jesus is watching our giving.
Many are willing to give out of their abundance for tax write-offs, to impress others, to get something else in return, or even because they know it is the right thing to do; but how many are willing to give out of their poverty or sacrificially?
I like this article by Sean Wegener on this story, The Poor Widow - Faith that Gives, in which he shares:
God’s generosity is not about what is given but what is withheld.
The heart and not the wallet prove whether our giving is faithful.
A heart which has been changed by the lavish gift of Christ gives not out of its abundance but out of its love.
When our giving causes us to set aside self-advancement, pleasures, and desires, then we have begun to understand God’s heart and reflect his name.
God gives not because He has an abundance (and He certainly does) but out of love (John 3:16)
True generosity flows from self-denial. Only when we reflect God’s sacrificial love do we begin to understand the heart of our Lord is a generous one.
Let’s strive to give more like the poor widow.