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Luke 20:45-21:4
"[45] While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, [46] "Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. [47] They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely."
[21:1] As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. [2] He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. [3] "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. [4] All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."
See three lessons for disciples in the brief story of this simple, pious widow:
1. Proportional Giving.
Jesus is teaching us that how much we give is related to how much we have. Earlier, Jesus had taught his disciples, "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked" (Luke 12:48).
This principle of proportional giving is at the root of the tithe (10% giving to the Lord) taught in the Old Testament.
Paul reiterates this principle to the Corinthian church: "On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income..." (1 Corinthians 16:2).
2. Sacrificial Giving.
Jesus doesn't tell the woman to keep her money, that God doesn't really need it.
He lets her give and his heart swells with pride for this lady. If he stops her, he deprives her of the blessing of giving to God. So he lets her do it.
We don't win extra points with God when we give sacrificially. This is not a contest. But know that when you make sacrifices for God, he is watching. It doesn't matter if no one else sees or knows. It is better that they do not.
But you may count on the fact that God sees and knows your giving. Jesus promises, "Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you" (Matthew 6:4).
3. Faith-filled Giving.
The third lesson I see here is that we ourselves should not despise our small gifts to God.
Sometimes we fall under the worldly spell that "bigger must be better." That's not true of our giving to God. We are to give what we are able, whether small or great. If you've ever been poor, then you know that it is easy to feel, "My small gift won't make any difference. It won't matter." But that's not true. It does matter. It matters to your Heavenly Father who loves you.
It is also faith-filled when you give, not knowing exactly how God will provide for you after you give.
I'm not encouraging foolish giving, but faith-filled giving, giving proportionately to your income and expecting God to meet your needs, with more-than-enough to be able to give again (2 Corinthians 9:6-11).
The tithe is a good guideline for giving, if you are just getting started stretching your faith. And wonderful promises come along with this practice (Malachi 3:6-12).
Wealthy people
Wealthy people can, of course, be a great blessing to others, if they give out of the right motives.
1. If wealthy people give sacrificially, they please God.
2. If they give out of love, they please God.
3. If they give in proportion to their income, they please God.
God's economics
But if we think that the value of our gift is greater than the widow's mite because it is a larger dollar amount, then we misunderstand the economics of the Kingdom of God.
God does not need you or me to keep his enterprise afloat. He does not owe us. He is not beholden to us.
The cattle on a thousand hills are his, and all the riches buried in the earth. He is fabulously wealthy.
On the other hand, don't withhold your gift, don't despise your giving just because the amount is so very small. God looks at your heart. God looks at your ability to give. And God desires to be proud of your giving, no matter how poor you are.
We don't give because God "needs" our contribution. We give in order to honor him with our substance. Whether large or small, we give to worship God.
I remember one other comparison Jesus gave between the wealthy and giving all. Jesus told the Rich Young Ruler to sell all that he had and give to the poor, and then to come, follow Him. The man balked. But the disciples later asked, "Haven't we given all to follow you?" And Jesus replied that those who give sacrificially will be richly rewarded -- in this life and in the life to come. (18:18-30).
How about you, my disciple friend. Have you given God your all, whether large or small? If you have, then you know the racing heart of trusting God for the next step, the next meal, the next project. And you know the reward of loving God with a joy and purity that reward you with his glorious presence.
I need to see that widow giving her two thin copper coins. I don't want to let her see me watching. But I need to see her. I need to see her to remind me once again what real love for God is all about.
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