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.
I know it is speculation, but I don’t think she said or thought: my gift is useless/little value (1/64 of a days pay), or people will notice how small my gift is (remember that people don’t know if she has piles of money wherever she lives). I don’t think she thought, now how am I going to get groceries now.
It’s always about the heart—how you give, how you forgive, how you speak, how you act to others around you, hypocrisy, pride, lust, all these things are about the heart. That’s why we are told not to give by compulsion, but cheerfully. Check ouyr hearts. Do we enjoy giving? Are we listening to God for what you give? Are we trusting when we give for God to provide? Do we truly believe that he needs nothing, owns everything, and gives us the blessings with giving?
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2) It is about the gift (v. 41-44)
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.”
2) It is about the gift (v. 41-44)
Explanation: for several reasons:
1) God blesses, provides, multiplies, and rewards those who give generously.
Proverbs 22:9 ESV
Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
Luke 6:38 ESV
give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
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2) Giving generously helps us fight against selfishness, materialism, and coldness of heart.
1 Timothy 6:17–19 ESV
As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.
They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,
thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
Luke 19:8 ESV
And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.”
I know why Jesus chose the treasury as the place to learn about people. Giving is worse than death for some persons whom I have met. A woman whose annual earnings from stocks totaled more than one-half million dollars gave only $25.00 to a wildlife preserve. Misery, loneliness, and alcoholism stalked her existence. On the other extreme, I met a man whose genius had produced a multi-million-dollar empire. Although he had not been known as a generous giver, he responded affirmatively to an appeal for one large gift and then another. Not only did he learn the joy of giving, but a confidant said, “He’s a changed man since he learned to give.”
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3) Giving generously draws us close to God as our trust level increases.
Malachi 3:8–11 ESV
Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions.
You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you.
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts.
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Closing illustration: One of the Ad Council's most effective public service commercials is the "Don't Almost Give" campaign. One ad shows a man with crutches struggling to go up a flight of steps. The narrator says, "This man almost learned to walk at a rehab center that almost got built by people who almost gave money." After a pause the narrator continues, "Almost gave. How good is almost giving? About as good as almost walking."
Another ad shows a homeless man curled up in a ball atop a pile of rags. He is covered with a ratty bed sheet. The narrator begins, "This is Jack Thomas. Today someone almost bought Jack something to eat. Someone almost brought him to a shelter. Someone almost gave him a warm blanket." Then after a pause the narrator drives his point home, "And Jack Thomas? Well, he almost made it through the night."
Jesus is ALWAYS AFTER YOUR HEART.
