Blessed Giver

The Blessed Giver

Scripture Reference: Mark 12:41-44 (KJV)

Mark 12:41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. 42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. 43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow has cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 44 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.

INTRODUCTION

Many of us think that since the God we serve is so powerful and pays so much attention to our every little detail and is so concerned about us that he even knows the very number of each hair on our head (Luke 12:7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.), that we have to be extravagant in our effort to serve him.

We may think that the only offerings that are well received are the large ones. Some of us think that we have so little to offer, that we would rather hold on to our small offering instead of giving it all to God and allowing a mighty God to do a mighty work with that small offering. We think that it would be far better for us to just keep the quarter in our pocket than go up to the offering plate and be embarrassed by putting it in.

MAIN BODY

Let us not forget about the woman with two mites. She was in the midst of people who gave big offerings and she came forth with her two coins and was immediately recognized by Jesus. He used her faithfulness to minister to the people and he still uses that woman’s faithfulness to minister to us now.

It would be common sense and completely logical to think that when we are in our most needy times that the answer would be to hold on to the little that we have. When we attempt to use math and science applications to lead our lives this makes perfectly good sense. However in this passage of scripture Jesus is teaching us that our logical applications of life have nothing to do with the Kingdom of God and how it works in our lives.

Not only was she poor but the fact that she was a widow meant that her earthly provider had passed away and left her to fend for herself.

Today in America there are many different programs and facilities set up for people in such a situation where if they could just reach out for it then they can get a little help. For this woman in this place however there was no such help. When Jesus explained that she threw in all that she had he really meant that she threw in all that she had. There were no back up programs and the such available. The woman had no way out of her situation that she could see.

The reason that this point is so important to us now is because God may have us in a situation where we really don’t see any way out. Saints believe me if there has ever been a time that God is watching you to see what you are going to do next it is now. God has his eye on our every move and is very concerned about how we will react in our dire times of need.

There was no bell ringing, no grand prize to be given away, in fact, the bible does not say what happened to the woman after she gave what she gave. All that is pointed out is the fact that although she was in a desperate time of need she chose to be a giver. Not only that but we must also recognize where she was when she gave.

Her husband must have been dignified for her to even think that she was supposed to be in the same temple as the people who could give large offerings out of their abundance. At some point in her life (probably while her husband was alive) she enjoyed the finer things in life.

We should also notice that this offering was not given so that the church could survive off of it. This was simply a cry for help using all that she had.

The woman did not go to Jesus to explain her situation yet Jesus knew exactly what she was doing.

Many times we are going to the people of the church seeking answers to our dilemmas. Some of the very people that we seek advice from may be in worse situations than what you are in right now. We need to keep our focus on God and trust that he has a way to help us. By this woman giving all that she had she was assuring God that without a doubt she trusted her life to him.