Organizing the Inside – Day 153 Willing to Give All She Had

February 3, 2012 at 10:00 am · Filed under Faith, Love, Purpose, Wisdom, Women's Ministry and tagged: Christianity, Giving, Trusting God, Wealth

41Jesus 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. 42But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth a fraction of a penny.

43Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
~Mark 12:41-44

Jesus watched for a teachable moment.
Jesus intentionally sat near the temple treasury to observe each contributor’s giving; as He waited for what He knew would be a teachable moment. The woman who gave all she had captured His attention, and He called His disciples over to learn from the widow’s example. What a huge lesson about giving.

Jesus doesn’t look at how much we give.
I think Jesus is more concerned with how much, our giving costs us. What does your giving cost? Do you give sacrificially, or do you give only limited amounts out of the abundance of all that you have? Some measure their giving right down to a set percentage and stop there. I suggest, there is a more excellent way.  It’s clear that the condition of our heart toward giving is what matters most to God. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 2 Corinthians 9:7

The widow showed a deep level of belief.
She gave all that she had to live on. I suspect she wasn’t sad and brokenhearted or worried over where her next meal would come from. I believe her giving shows a deep trust and commitment. This kind of giving shows a level of trust that challenges me in my life as a Christian. When I hold back in my giving and I know I’m not giving as much as a could, I wonder why. I can only face up to the fact that my giving represents a much deeper level of commitment. Do I hold back from God, or am I fully invested in His kingdom?  Sacrificial giving begins in one’s heart. It’s a sincere commitment to correctly prioritize values. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:17

Are you willing to give all that you have to live on?
What does it mean for you to give all that you have to live on? Do you trust God enough to meet your needs if you put Him first? This question goes far beyond looking at our own willingness to give of our financial income. God wants us to have a willingness to give up all we have in time, resources, energy and wealth. Giving up all you have requires a great deal of trust and faith in God’s ability to provide. A Christian who is willing to relinquish their wants, desires and selfish ambitions to seek the will of God for their life, will then find fulfillment. Reaching for dreams and setting goals are only worth the effort once you’ve determined your goals are directly connected to the dream that God has given. Giving up what I want in exchange for whatever God has for me indeed may require a great amount of faith and patience, but the rewards of my obedience are far greater than I can imagine.

3For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:3, 4

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