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.
for where your treasure is, there your heart
will be also.
Live a life of generosity.
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