Scripture:
Luke 21:3-4
And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
Observation:
Jesus teaches an important lesson on giving. In God’s economy the amount of the gift does not equate to the value. Instead, the heart of the giver does.
Application:
Giving can easily become something to be prideful about. It is easily measurable and comes with its own 0’s, commas and decimals. However the measure we use to determine value is not the same to God. When it comes to offerings, the heart is what God is watching and weighing. The weight of the offering is not in the amount but rather the weight of the sacrifice the offering costs the giver.
A few things:
-Humble yourself. Giving a lot from a lot doesn’t mean as much as we think it does. Though it might impress others, it isn’t impressive to God.
-The woman’s gift from her poverty cost her everything. It expresses a level of trust that God is seeking in our offering. When we give without trust, it is a waste. Our trust is to be in The God we give to, not the temple, the church or anything else.
-Jesus notices our giving. This is something between us and God. We can’t allow the influence of others to taint what is to be a spiritual and intimate discipline. Others may notice, but the only eyes that matter are the eyes of the God we give to.
Prayer:
Father may I learn to give sacrificially, trusting in you, and remembering all along that you see my heart even more than the amount given.