More Than All

Daily Reading:  Mark 12

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. (Mark 12.43-44)

Devotional Thought: Jesus was “at church” with his disciples.  They had gone to the Temple to participate in worship and in group discussions.  As they left the Temple, they found themselves in front of the offering box just as a widow was giving a very modest offering of two small copper coins (That sounds like a couple pennies…)  Not one to miss a teaching moment, Jesus said, “This poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box…”  What?  Her two pennies were worth more than all the other offerings combined.

After reading this story, ask yourself these questions:

·       Why do I give?  This widow gave because she wanted to express her trust in and appreciation for God’s blessing in her life.  True, she didn’t have much.  Life had dealt her a hard blow.  But her attitude was one of gratitude.  God had provided for her needs, and she trusted him to continue to do so.  She gave just to tell God she loved him!

·       Am I giving to get noticed?  The scribes liked to get noticed.  They were proud of what they gave, and they wanted others around them to be impressed with just how generous they were.  The widow knew her gift was small in comparison.  Yet she gave anyway.  She gave with abandon.

·       Do I give sacrificially?  It was all she had to live on.  Her next meal was lying at the bottom of the offering box, covered by great gifts that dwarfed its significance.  But not to Jesus!  Jesus recognized that in giving her last, she was giving her all.

Like the poor widow, can we give more than all?

Prayer: Jesus, you gave your all for me.  I give you my all in return, O Lord.  It may not be much in the eyes of the world, but in your eyes, you see it as more than all.  Thank you.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 7.14-17

14 Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies.

15 He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made.

16 His mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own skull his violence descends.

17 I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.