“Summoning His disciples, He said to them, I assure you: This poor widow has put in more than all those giving to the Temple treasury.” ~ Mark 12:43
Last month in our daily Bible readings, we came across a story which has always fascinated me for some reason. Jesus and the disciples are outside of the Temple courts and the people are gathering to go in and worship. The scene is a typical Sabbath day as the Pharisees, Sadducees, and religious leaders have their entourage and they create attention so everyone can see the bags of money they are putting into tithe boxes for the temple treasury.
All of a sudden, Jesus is absolutely amazed. So much so, that He tracks down His disciples and makes them observe what is happened. Jesus is completely astonished not at the spectacle of the show of the religious, but rather of the humble, meager gift of the a poor widow.
She slowly makes her way to the tithe box and puts in what we would consider as pretty much worthless. (value would less than a penny) No one would have even noticed her at all, I mean who is she and what good is that really going to do the Temple?
Jesus points out a couple things here. 1. It’s not the monetary value of the offering that counts. We get hung up on numbers and assign importance to a higher number but Jesus doesn’t care. 2. They gave what they could afford. She gave all she had. She sacrificed in obedience. Her heart was not about the numbers but the One she was giving it to. This was a absolute demonstration of trust. And Jesus noticed!
This should remind us to give what we have to the Lord. And I am not just talking about tithe’s and offerings, but also of time, talents, and effort. Are we giving to the point that it makes Jesus hunt down some people and take notice? I pray I am and I pray that you will too.
Following Him,
Jeff