The widow's mite

And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living. – Mark 12.42-44

Nobody seems to want to talk about giving at church. We pastors can almost feel apologetic when the topic comes up.

The thing is though that Jesus talked a lot about giving. Giving was not meant to be a burden, but a way to see God bless our faith. It was a sign of gratitude for what God has done.

Jesus talks here about people brining the offerings for the Temple. The rich were gladly dumping money in the box to prove how spiritual they were. I reckon they were feeling pretty good about themselves.

Then along came this poor widow. She fished in her bag and all she could come up with was two mites, about a farthing, or a 1/4^th of a cent, a little over a euro in today’s money.

Surely, that is just a pittance. What could that matter in the light of what they were doing in that magnificent Temple. But when Jesus saw what had happened His called His followers to Him and pointed out the widow’s two mites were more than all the great gifts of the Pharisees. It did not hurt them to give, but the widow gave all she had.

God is not concerned about amounts, He doesn’t need our money. He doesn’t want us to give to pay His bills. We give to show our gratitude to God, to meet the needs of the poor, and to meet the needs of those who preach the gospel so they can give themselves to it.

God wants hearts like this widow, he wants us to give out of our lack and even our poverty to get our eyes off of our wallets and on to His ability to provide. Giving is worship because it is evidence that I trust Him.

Lord, make me to see giving the way this precious widow did, and then watch you meet my needs.