Skip to main content

harvest of generosity


And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. 42 A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. 43 Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”

Can you imagine being with Jesus on this day?  It seems to be one of those days that began the normal way but was laced with teaching moments between Jesus and those closest to him.  On a side note, I crave some of those teaching moments.

Learning from Jesus had to be incredible, yet most days leave you and me somewhat callus to the small points.  The big ones are easy to grasp, to take notes from and to think back through over and over.  The small ones are different.  It could be a short sentence or two of reflection over the sunset.  It might be noticing a smile or an interaction between people you were around for only a few minutes.

That is what those moments must have been like in the temple that day.  It was natural for people to bring their offerings.  Most of the people did this often, and they enjoyed giving.  At least that is what Jesus reminded each of us to be, a cheerful giver as notes in 2 Corinthians 9.

Until the little widow lady walked in to the room.  I imagine Jesus stopped talking and started watching.  The disciples noticed the gaze of their leader watching this lady’s steps and what she was about to do.  Maybe they could hear those two coins roll in to the bucket.  Or maybe they noticed nothing at all.

Stop for a minute and hear what Jesus said.  She gave more.  That stunned the people around Jesus as it would have stunned me.  The big givers matter the most, or so it seems.  The giving of all the people made the treasury grow in huge proportions.  Her gift made very little difference to the people counting the gifts that day.

Her gift made a big difference in her life.  Some translations, older ones, speak of her two coins as mites.  They were the smallest coin currency in the Jewish system, and they amounted to maybe one penny to us.  Jesus said her gift was bigger, stronger and meant more than all the gifts given by the rich or anyone who gave that day.

This lady’s heart was in the right place as she gave out of her poverty.  Others gave out of their overflow and the extra.  She simply knew that God was at work and deserved her best.

God deserves our best.  He deserves our heart.  Being generous denotes a life that has made God the center and His work the priority of it all.  I am praying for people who will become a “harvest of generosity in you”.

2 Corinthians 9:10 NLT
For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat.  In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. 

It really is an issue of the heart.

Matthew 6:21  NASB
for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Live a life of generosity. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

wash feet, sharing hope

  John 13:4-5,14 NLT  So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow.  He served.  He valued and gave value to others.  That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet.  It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives.  Jesus said we should do this.  See the verse above.  Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns.  One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns.  When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her.  Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns.  Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved.  Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?"  Beverly said, "Why yes I do."  Edith said, "Well, what do you ...