July 24, 2024

Mark 12:43-44

⁴³ So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; ⁴⁴ for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”

A poor widow was the biggest giver that Jesus ever saw. But it wasn’t because she had given the biggest monetary amount. And yet, her act of giving was so impressive to Him that He called His disciples to Himself to point out what He had just observed.

I can imagine that in the temple compound where they were, there were myriads of people coming and going. The treasury part of the temple was in the court of the women, so it was one of the less restricted areas. There had to have been plenty of activity going on. If you were a Jewish female, this was the closest you could get to the holiest area that was further in.

But Jesus made a special effort to gather His disciples together to point out something quite momentous. A poor widow woman had just given an offering of two cents!

Now this was in shocking contrast to the great caravans that would arrive from afar. It was not uncommon for the caravan riders to bring large sacks of money and treasure and deposit them into the treasury. It was often done with great fanfare, and the crowds would applaud with approval.

But nobody was applauding when the poor widow woman threw in her two mites. And yet when Jesus saw what she did, it blew Him away!

Now you would be even more blown away if you knew the entire meaning behind the title that she bore: “Poor widow.” The word for widow was a derivative of the word for “deficiency.” It could mean sterile, bereft, and barren.

And the word for poor was even more telling of her condition. It literally means, “reduced to beggary.” It is the condition of being destitute of wealth, influence, position, and honor. Someone who is helpless and powerless.

Now that you understand who this poor widow really was, it is even more amazing that she was in the temple at all. She was only surviving through being a beggar. And yet, she had not forgotten her relationship with God!

She put two cents into the treasury. Jesus, through a word of knowledge, knew that it was EVERYTHING that she had. There wasn’t another two cents in her pocketbook to buy lunch later. That was it! When she got done giving to God, there was nothing left for her to give, even if she had wanted to.

And as far as Jesus was concerned, her gift was greater than everything that the caravans were bringing in. Their big bags of treasure were nothing compared to what she had given.

What does this tell us about the spirit of true giving? It really has nothing to do with the amount deposited into the treasury (or how much you give in the church offering). It has everything to do with how much is left in your pocketbook (or bank account) when you get done giving.

The rich people in the caravans were giving large amounts. But they didn’t really miss it. Their giving did not affect their lifestyles in the least.

But that poor widow was not going to eat again unless she was able to get a donation of alms from some generous person who would have mercy on her. And there was no guarantee of that.

And so her act of worship (giving is an act of worship) was so incredible that Jesus was moved to gather His disciples together and point out what had just happened.

He didn’t do that for the guys with the big sacks of treasure.

Getting this concept would radically change the way we give. And the way we worship.