The Poor Widow's Offering Series

This woman took a great leap of faith. And, although we don’t know the rest of the story, I have no doubt that she was taken care of. Matt. 6:33, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.” She chose not to worry about what she was going to eat or worry about what she was going to wear once the rags she was wearing wore out. She entrusted her needs to the Lord and I think it’s safe to say that she was in turn blessed spiritually and materially. Matthew Henry’s commentary: “Christ commended her willingness to part with what little she had for the glory of God, which proceeded from a belief of and dependence upon God's providence to take care of her. Jehovah-jireh--the Lord will provide.”

One might wonder, “Does this mean Jesus wants me to put everything I have in the offering plate each Sunday?” I don’t believe this is what Jesus is saying. I don’t believe the example of this poor widow is now the standard for all his followers; otherwise I think he would’ve said so.

With that said, though, I think a valid question is-what if Jesus asked us to do what she did? He asked the rich young ruler to sell all his possessions, give to the poor and then come and follow him. When he was illustrating the cost of being his disciple, Jesus said in Luke 14:33 that anyone who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. In context, this means that Jesus wants us to give up control of our lives for the sake of doing his will-in everything and with everything.

This isn’t easy to live out but this is what we signed up for when we became born-again. Jesus said we need to put him first; he said we need to take up our cross and follow him. We need to be willing to give up anything we have; we have to release our grip on our possessions in the event of Jesus having his way with us. If what we have is getting in the way of our devotion to him then Jesus will challenge us to part with it.

For the rich young ruler, his possessions were standing in the way of him following Jesus. Jesus challenged him to free himself from the thing that stood in the way. Unfortunately, he went away without being willing to do what Jesus asked.

Although this challenge wasn’t presented to the poor widow, I still believe it was a test. I don’t think she came up with the idea to give all that she had on her own. I believe the Holy Spirit put the thought in her mind and she had a choice whether she was going to act on it or not. She was obedient and Jesus recognized her for it.

Abraham and Isaac-you have not withheld from me your only son. God the Father didn’t withhold his one and only precious son from us. He offered him to us. Jesus offered his precious life to us for forgiveness-he didn’t hold back from us. Let’s not hold back on him.

The poor widow gave more than just all she had financially-she gave all of herself. The phrase, “all she had to live on” in the Greek is understood to mean “She gave her whole life.” That is the more important thing to consider. It’s not just have we given of our resources but have we given of ourselves? Rom. 12:1-2. Because of God’s mercy, because he gave me his all, because Jesus sacrificed his life for me I need to give my all for him. I now offer myself and my possessions for God’s holy purposes-whatever they may be. I choose to live by a new pattern; I choose to live in a new mindset.