Luke 21:1-4
As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
Jesus looked up. And Jesus also saw. There were 2 kinds of giving in the temple. One came from the rich. The other from a poor widow.
Nothing was said of the gifts of the rich. What were the gifts? How much did they give? Yet it was recorded that the poor widow gave two VERY small copper coins.
In this short story, Jesus saw the giving from the heart and shared what he saw with his disciples. Jesus saw more than just the 2 copper coins. Jesus saw the poor widow’s coins came out of her love for God.
Perhaps Jesus also saw the rich giving out of the pride of their hearts. Maybe Jesus also saw how much the rich gave. What they threw in the tithe box might have made much noise coz theirs were many big coins – not just 2 small ones. Yet Jesus commended the poor widow – she gave ‘more’ than all the others. How? Because she gave ALL that she had to live on.
God sees what is left after I give. When I give to the Lord, do I give my all? Is what I give a tenth of what I have? Is it more? Is it less? Is there anything more to give after I’ve given to the Lord? Did I give my all?
Dear Lord, you see me, in and out. You know my thoughts and my words even before I form or utter them. Create in me a clean heart O Lord, and renew a right spirit within me to give you my all today. Amen.
