"she Gave Her Whole Life"

“She Gave Her Whole Life”

Mark 12:38-44

What if, at the beginning of our lives, someone were to say to us: “Would you like to have the most satisfying life possible during your short stay on earth?”

I think most all of us would say, “Yes, yes I would.”

And if this “someone” asked us if we wanted to know the secret or the key to this successful living, we most likely would be eager for them to tell us.

Jesus Christ talks a lot about what is truly important in life; about what will give our lives meaning and substance.

He says: “I have come that [we] may have life and have it to the full.”

What does it mean to have life to the full?

Let’s keep this question in mind as we look at our Gospel Lesson for this morning.

We are told in verse 41 that “Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury.”

He saw a whole bunch of rich people come and throw huge amounts of money into the receptacles or what we would call the “offering plates.”

Why do you suppose Jesus was sitting there?

Why was He watching these people.

Why did He have His disciples so close at hand…watching the parade?

I think Jesus was using it as a teaching moment but I’d also guess it was a popular pastime for many.

After all, they didn’t have t-v or movies, smart phones or video games.

“Wow, look what that guy donated.”

“Ooh, she must be really rich to afford that much.”

“Ah, he must be really devoted to God—look at His gift.”

But this doesn’t seem to impress Jesus much.

As usual, Jesus finds true meaning where we often miss it.

While everyone else’s attention is focused on the rich people and who gives the most money…

…Jesus’ attention is focused on the same thing, but from a different angle.

It’s not the amount of money that Jesus is noticing, it’s the commitment.

It’s what’s in the heart of the giver that intrigues Jesus.

So, with all these rich people throwing large sums of money into the offering, the biggest offering Jesus sees turns out to be two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny that a poor widow donates.

What is Jesus doing here?

What is He thinking?

“Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you; this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.

They gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

Huh?

Is this a case where Jesus is romanticizing and idealizing the poor?

Certainly, a poor person would be the first one to say, “Hey, being poor is no picnic. It’s not something to aim for.”

Life in poverty is what we all want to avoid, not aspire to.

No one dreams of growing up poor, of living from paycheck to paycheck.

I mean, this is not something to put down.

It’s not something we want people to be ashamed of—we could all find ourselves in this situation--but digging through garbage cans or living in run-down apartments with no heat—we wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

(pause)

Wednesday morning a man from Cocke County, who had lost everything he owned in the recent floods showed up at the church doors.

He was crying and apologizing.

He had just dropped his son off at school…hungry.

He had nothing to feed him.

And he felt horrible.

Denna, a few others and I scrambled to try and find some food for him in the kitchen.

Kali was able to provide him with a list of other churches and non-profits that offer help with food and clothing, and then I walked over and filled his car up with gas.

I was able to do this because of the love and generosity of this church.

The man was so thankful and humbled.

He kept telling me he would pay us back and I said we all need help sometimes and this is why the church is here—to help people, to love people.

If we weren’t here for this, we might as well not exist.

He told me that he doesn’t find many people who are willing to help him, listen to him and take him seriously.

Lord willing, we were able to be a blessing to him, but he was also a blessing to us.

Before he walked in, Denna and I were discussing our distress and sadness about the presidential election that had taken place the night before.

But helping this man and then getting on with our day in helping others, freed us to forget our sadness, and our feelings of hopelessness.