The Widow's Offering - Mark 12:41-44

Do you know the treasury boxes in the temple were made of metal? Picture the wealthy walking into the temple with large bags of money. What an unbelievable noise it makes as they throw the contents into the boxes!

Jesus and His disciples are watching. A widow quietly moves through the line unaware that Jesus is looking at her. The disciples pay little attention as the poor widow drops two small copper coins into the box.

Jesus calls His disciples together. The show of wealth is obvious. Jesus wants them to see something very different.

“Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put out everything she had, all she had to live on.” (v 43-44)

Jesus isn’t looking at the amount the widow gave. He sees her giving as an act of worship and obedience to God. This is what Jesus asks of His disciples. The widow gives “all she has to live on.” She gives her whole life. Her heart is focused on God; what she has to offer Him.

The message is: God wants us to give what we have, through worship and obedience, whether it is great or small. We should never fail to give because we think it is too insignificant. We should never fail to do something because we think it won’t make a difference.

God is great. He can do extraordinary things with small gifts.

Read today's text, Mark 12:41-44, on Biblegateway.

The Cheerful Giver 2 Corinthians 8:10-24

I get excited reading today’s passage. Sure some read it discouraged by how hard it is to give their hard earned money. I read it and think of all the people I have seen blessed through the obedience others have shown through their giving.My husband and I for one have been able to work in the church for years because others give. We have shared the gospel to hundreds of youth, and evangelized with those same youth to total strangers while on mission trips.

A young lady we were once youth leaders for, is now a missionary on a college campus. She shares the gospel to coeds each day, and her income comes solely from the offerings of Christians. All over the world people hear the gospel because others understand what they have is a gift from God, meant to be given back for His glory. I don’t know about you but that excites me!

I still remember the first official decision my husband and I made once we were married was to tithe. It has not always been easy, but God has never let us go without. When there are times when we want more, I am reminded of a prayer I prayed every Sunday in church,

Merciful Father,
We offer with joy and thanksgiving what You have first given us, ourselves, our time, and our possessions signs of Your gracious love. Receive them for the sake of Him who offered Himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord.

God doesn’t want me to give begrudgingly, He loves a cheerful giver.

Read today passage on Biblegateway 2 Corinthians 8:10-24