“And He saw a certain poor widow putting in two mites.
So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all;
for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God,
but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”
Luke 21:2-4
Today, a widow is not destined to a life of poverty when her husband passes away. But in the days of the Bible, widows without families to provide for them were left to beg on the streets for a living. The widow Jesus observed was pennies away from being absolutely destitute. He knew she had given all that she had, reserving nothing for herself.
The mite was the lowest valued coin in the Hebrew culture of the day. It was worth less than a fraction of a penny. It was certainly no match for the large offerings given by the wealthy or even those who were struggling, but surviving.
That is an essential point. This woman had no way to survive; yet she gave.
That is why Jesus was so touched. He was not focused on the amount of money, but by the depth of her giving – from a place of poverty.
In his lifetime, the great theologian, John Wesley, traveled 250,000 miles on horseback, averaging twenty miles a day for forty years. He preached 4,000 sermons, produced 400 books, and learned ten languages. At 83 years old, he was annoyed that he could not write more than 15 hours a day without hurting his eyes. At 86, he was ashamed he could not preach more than twice a day. He complained in his diary that there was an increasing tendency to just lie in bed quite late – all the way until 5:30 in the morning!
Like the widow who gave only two mites, John Wesley gave everything of himself.
And that is the beauty of giving to God. It is not the amount of money we can afford to give. The Lord loves you. That is why He desires most for you to give of yourself, no matter who you are, what you do or how much you have.
This is what makes you so important to God’s Kingdom. You have something the Lord needs you – just you – to give. You have a unique and vital role to play in the story of the gospel. Now is the time for you to step up and give your best. Why? Because Jesus needs you . . . and so do all the people whose life your's will touch.
This Week’s Prayer
Lord Jesus, I want to give and do my best for You. Please show me the opportunities to do Your will every day. Do not hide my eyes from those in need. I know there is something I can do today to change someone’s life – even if it’s just a little. Guide me to those people, show me their wounds and worries. Give me the strength to encourage them and provide them with hope through Your Word and Your love. Amen.
