Assessing Value

Background to passage: This is the last event of Jesus’s public ministry that he includes in his gospel. A familiar account of Jesus watching the offering bins and teaching a lesson about giving. The account teaches just a couple of things, and I am going to throw in a few more.

Now, I never (or nearly never) preach on money much for a couple of reasons. It seems to feel self-serving. It is an uncomfortable topic. I am not a good manager of money. I have determined that I need to be faithful with the whole counsel of God. I feel like he has put it on my heart.

I talked to a pastor one time and shared with him my struggle, and he said he never had a problem asking congregations to do what God calls them to do. I was preparing this week and I found a resource that contained 9 Promises for Generous Givers. It was really good, but what I realized is that God has so many blessings that would go to you if you are faithful in generous giving. AND as a church, if we are to reach our city, our world, God will use us as the avenue and pipeline to make disciples.

Mark 12:41–44 ESV

And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums.

And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny.

And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box.

For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Opening illustration: Giving in Theory

The story is told of the missionary who asked a new convert, “Pablo, if you had a hundred sheep, would you give fifty of them to the Lord’s work?”

“You know I would gladly give them,” he replied.

“Pablo, if you had fifty cows, would you give twenty-five to the Lord’s work?”

“Of course, I would be more than happy to do that,” came the confident reply.

Once again the missionary asked, “Pablo, if you had two pigs, would you give one of them to the Lord’s work?”

“That’s not fair!” Pablo said, “You know I have two pigs.”

1) It’s not about the gift (v. 43-44)

Mark 12:43–44 ESV

And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box.

For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

1) It’s not about the gift (v. 43-44)

Explanation: It’s not about the gift, but about the giving. It’s not about the coins, but about how she throws them. It’s not about their worth, but about their cost. It’s not about how much she gives, but about how much she keeps.

First, know that God doesn’t need anything. We are not supplying something he lacks. If you don’t give he can supply the need another way, like Esther was told. However, he gives us the privilege of cooperating with him in his work in the world for a number of reasons, but primarily to bless you.

Esther 4:14 ESV

For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

It was not about five loaves and two fish. It wasn’t about the alabaster box. It wasn’t about the seven loaves. It wasn’t about the giving away half his wealth. It wasn’t about the coin in the fishes mouth. It was about the heart of the rich young ruler who refused and walked away sad.

Illustration: “Before the judgment seat of Christ my service will be judged not by how much I have done but by how much I could have done!... In God’s sight, my giving is measured not by how much I have given but how much I have left after I made my gift… Not by its size is my gift judged, but by how much of me there is in it. No man gives at all until he has given all! No man gives anything acceptable to God until he has first given himself in love and sacrifice” -Tozer

Application: This passage is about the faith, trust, and love for God that this widow has; otherwise this makes no sense. Jesus is teaching the disciples that it is not about the amount of money that you put in the offering plate, but it is about your heart. This is why we are told give what we have decided in our hearts. We hear from God about our giving, because he desires us to want to give. In the heart of this woman she feels love for God and trusts him to take care of her. “Giving is to be measured: not by its count, but its cost; not by its amount, but its portion; not by what is given, but by what is kept; not by money, but by spirit.” If we truly hold to this understanding, we fall on our knees and ask God what we should give, before we give.