By: Barry G. Allen- President & CEO
Remember that incident recorded in Luke 21:1-4 and Mark 12:41-44 when Jesus observed the poor widow putting her copper coins into the temple treasury? What a comparison Jesus made that day to the others who were putting their money into the treasury as well! Mark’s version reported “Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, ‘I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all of the others. They gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything – all she had to live on.’”
In terms of the coins she used this woman made the smallest gift, but to Jesus she made the most significant gift to God’s work. What are the truths Jesus would have us learn from this experience? First, no one is excluded from the privilege of making a worthy gift to our Lord. Second, the gift that counts is the gift that costs. Third, it’s not the amount but the proportion. Fourth, it’s not the size of the gift but the size of the sacrifice. Fifth, to God the depth of our giving is not dependent upon the depth of our pockets but upon the depth of our love and commitment to Him.
Giving is a matter of the heart. The poor widow demonstrated a heart of faith and love. She deprived herself of necessities in order to give to the cause she loved, and she did it believing God would not overlook her needs. God has honored this poor widow’s legacy by her place in Holy Scripture. Have you given Him your heart? He is not asking us to give all we have to live on. But, if we want to be commended by Him, we must give Him our heart like she did.