[1] As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. [2] He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. [3] “I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. [4] All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
“Don’t Look Down On A Man” – The Jackson Southernaires
Greetings to my WIFI subscribers, viewers, family and friends… This has been one interesting week, but I do know that God is in it every step of the way… As I thought about the society we live in and how the economy is the way it is, there are a lot of people that are secretly hurting, but you will never know just by the naked eye. As we open up and talk to one another, we find that most people are alike in a lot of ways… They may not be the same nationality, creed or economic status as you, but they still have the same desires and the same needs alike.. We all want to be loved, we all need to eat and have clean water to drink, clothes on our backs and shoes for our feet… With that in mind, all man kind deserves a chance to enjoy life no matter what level you live your life on…
As I’m reminded of the story in the book Luke about the poor widow woman that did not have much, but she gave out the abundance of her heart, and that’s all that really matters is that when we give, we give with sincerity and from our heart no looking for anything in return… As we look at the scriptures below, I want to let you know that no matter how small your contribution may be, God honors it, and will bless you for giving from the depths of your heart just like the poor widow woman with little..
As I study God’s word on this morning, he began to speak clearly the 23rd Psalms to me.
Psalm 23 (KJV)
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Luke 20:45-21:4
[45] While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, [46] “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. [47] They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.”
[21:1] As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. [2] He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. [3] “I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. [4] All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
More than All the Others (21:3-4)
She gave a very small offering, perhaps, but I’ve known many, many people — much better off than the widow — who put in $1 when the plate is passed and feel good about themselves. But for the widow, this $1.50 is all she has.
“‘I tell you the truth,’ he said, ‘this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.'” (21:3-4) This $1.50 represents buying her next meal. She is destitute, probably living off the charity of her neighbors. She has just a tiny bit in her possession, but she wants to give it. No matter that she won’t have food for the evening meal. She wants to give it.
People are watching the rich ostentatiously depositing their large offerings. But no one marks the poverty-stricken widow, who reached into her rags to withdraw these two thin copper coins and deposit them into the collection box. No one see the look of joy on her face as she gives to her Lord the little she has. No one sees. No one notices.
But God notices. God’s Son notices. And he says to his disciples — “Did you see that!?” They look over where he is pointing. All they see is a tired old widow shuffling away from the collection box.
“She gave more than all of those rich people put together,” Jesus tells them, and they look at him in astonishment. $1.50 vs. thousands of dollars? They don’t say it, but they must think that Jesus is seriously mistaken. Daft, maybe.
But he continues. “All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” Jesus is thinking about proportional giving.
The word “wealth” (NIV) or “abundance” (KJV) is Greek perisseuo, “to be in abundance, abound.”[11] It is used in contrast to “need” (NIV) or “penury,” which translate the Greek noun husterma, “the lack of what is needed or desirable, frequently in contrast to abundance, need, want, deficiency.”[12] The word translated “live on” (NIV) or “living” (KJV) is Greek bios, “life” and the derived meaning, “resources needed to maintain life, means of subsistence.”[13] (We get our words “biology,” “biotics,” “biosphere,” etc. from bios.)
I see three lessons for disciples in the brief story of this simple, pious widow:
1. Proportional Giving. Jesus is teaching us that how much we give is related to how much we have. Earlier, Jesus had taught his disciples, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (Luke 12:48). This principle of proportional giving is at the root of the tithe (10% giving to the Lord) taught in the Old Testament. Paul reiterates this principle to the Corinthian church: “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income…” (1 Corinthians 16:2).
2. Sacrificial Giving. Jesus doesn’t tell the woman to keep her money, that God doesn’t really need it. He lets her give and his heart swells with pride for this lady. If he stops her, he deprives her of the blessing of giving to God. So he lets her do it. We don’t win extra points with God when we give sacrificially. This is not a contest. But know that when you make sacrifices for God, he is watching. It doesn’t matter if no one else sees or knows. It is better that they do not. But you may count on the fact that God sees and knows your giving. Jesus promises, “Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:4).
3. Faith-filled Giving. The third lesson I see here is that we ourselves should not despise our small gifts to God. Sometimes we fall under the worldly spell that “bigger must be better.” That’s not true of our giving to God. We are to give what we are able, whether small or great. If you’ve ever been poor, then you know that it is easy to feel, “My small gift won’t make any difference. It won’t matter.” But that’s not true. It does matter. It matters to your Heavenly Father who loves you.
It is also faith-filled when you give, not knowing exactly how God will provide for you after you give. I’m not encouraging foolish giving, but faith-filled giving, giving proportionately to your income and expecting God to meet your needs, with more-than-enough to be able to give again (2 Corinthians 9:6-11). The tithe is a good guideline for giving, if you are just getting started stretching your faith. And wonderful promises come along with this practice (Malachi 3:6-12).
Motivations for Giving
It is a fact, at least in the US, that the poor give a substantially larger proportion of their income to the Lord’s work than the wealthy? Why is this? I believe that the poor tend to give out of love, while the wealthy tend to give out of duty. The poor give when it hurts. The wealthy seldom give enough so that it ever hurts.
Comfortably wealthy people tend to see their “large” dollar-amount gifts as significant, and can use them as leverage for power. It is common to hear of so-called “church pillars” who withhold their giving to the church until the pastor begins to do things their way or leaves. Wealthy members can use their money to control a church. “After all,” they say, “if it weren’t for my giving….” They try to buy the pastor’s favor and so compromise the pastor’s integrity. But wealthy donors like this are no better than the Pharisees who give and pray in order to be seen by others. Manipulators, power-seekers, they can be a blot on the purity of the Church of Jesus Christ.
Wealthy people can, of course, be a great blessing to others, if they give out of the right motives. If wealthy people give sacrificially, they please God. If they give out of love, they please God. If they give in proportion to their income, they please God.
But if we think that the value of our gift is greater than the widow’s mite because it is a larger dollar amount, then we misunderstand the economics of the Kingdom of God. God does not need you or me to keep his enterprise afloat. He does not owe us. He is not beholden to us. The cattle on a thousand hills are his, and all the riches buried in the earth. He is fabulously wealthy.
On the other hand, don’t withhold your gift, don’t despise your giving just because the amount is so very small. God looks at your heart. God looks at your ability to give. And God desires to be proud of your giving, no matter how poor you are.
We don’t give because God “needs” our contribution. We give in order to honor him with our substance. Whether large or small, we give to worship God.
I remember one other comparison Jesus gave between the wealthy and giving all. Jesus told the Rich Young Ruler to sell all that he had and give to the poor, and then to come, follow Him. The man balked. But the disciples later asked, “Haven’t we given all to follow you?” And Jesus replied that those who give sacrificially will be richly rewarded — in this life and in the life to come. (18:18-30).
How about you, my disciple friend. Have you given God your all, whether large or small? If you have, then you know the racing heart of trusting God for the next step, the next meal, the next project. And you know the reward of loving God with a joy and purity that reward you with his glorious presence.
I need to see that widow giving her two thin copper coins. I don’t want to let her see me watching. But I need to see her. I need to see her to remind me once again what real love for God is all about.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I am more and more aware that those whom you will reward with the greatest crowns are not as likely to be the well-known Christian leaders, as the faithful men and women who regularly lay their whole life and livelihood on the line for you. I pray that I might someday you might count me worthy to stand among these ordinary Christian heroes. In your Holy Name, I pray. Amen.
Key Verse
“I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” (Luke 21:3-4)
Posted by Minister Evelyn Diane Thomas – President & CEO of WIFI Ministries
*Reference material in this piece is used from Bible gateway & Commentary references…
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