All She Had

Daily Reading: Luke 21

Scripture Focus: “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” (Luke 21.3-4)

Devotional Thought: A few weeks ago, Lana and I received one of the best gifts ever. It was simply a card with a hand-written message inside. It represented the giver's heart and touched us deeply. It may not have impressed other people, but oh, how we rejoiced!

Jesus encountered a situation like that one day at the temple. A poor widow gave an offering that overwhelmed him. It represented her heart. It represented "all she had."

Christmas season is a good time to check our giving quotients. Using this story, we are reminded that we should give...

• Out of our abundance. Jesus, commended those who were able to give from their abundance. God blesses us so that we might in turn be a blessing, giving away what he has so freely given us. It may not be wealth that we have an abundance of, but we can still give our abundance away. "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have, I give you. In the name of Jesus..." We have an abundance of joy, peace, hope and love in Jesus Christ!

• Out of our poverty. Even when we don't have much to give, giving to the Lord is still a joy. Giving to others is the same. Paul spoke of the Macedonians who were blessed and who themselves blessed others because they gave out of their poverty. When you lack, do you grouse, or do you give?

• All we have to live on. We must, of course, give God our all. I think we also can open up our hearts to others as well, sharing with them all the love we have.

Jesus gave out of his abundance and out of his poverty. He gave all he had. Do you?

Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, that you gave all you had for our salvation. Help us to give in abundance and poverty alike. We give you our all today.

Psalm of the Day: 1 Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; 2 he is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me. 3 O LORD, what is man that you regard him, or the son of man that you think of him? 4 Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow. 5 Bow your heavens, O LORD, and come down! Touch the mountains so that they smoke! 6 Flash forth the lightning and scatter them; send out your arrows and rout them! 7 Stretch out your hand from on high; rescue me and deliver me from the many waters, from the hand of foreigners, 8 whose mouths speak lies and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood. (Psalms 144:1-8)