Begin with two minutes of stillness and silence before God.

I have always had a fascination for coins. As a kid, and even now as an adult, I look at all of my change to see if I can find that collectible coin that has slipped through circulation. In 1979, I was at a Wendy’s restaurant in Jackson, Mississippi, and received a penny that had not been struck at the mint. It was completely blank. Made my day. I still have that blank penny. Worth about a whole dollar or two now. Think I’ll keep my day job.  

So, when I read the story of the Widow’s Mite in chapter 12, it caught my attention from the very beginning. We find Jesus sitting opposite the treasury and observing how the people put their money in. That alone I find curious. Do you think Jesus actually cares where we put our treasures? Maybe I should put it another way. Do you think Jesus actually cares about what we do with the treasures He has graciously entrusted us with? Of course, He does. Luke 12:34 reminds us, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” It certainly was not about the amount they were putting in. Does one really think God needs your money? Deuteronomy 10:14: “Behold, to the Lord your God belong the heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it.” All that is in it. All the gold, all the jewels, all the precious art, whether you can figure out what it is or not. He even has a monopoly on Bitcoins. It was never then and will never ever be about the amount, but the condition of your heart when giving.   

I see a couple of things here: 

1. God sees the overlooked. Let’s be clear: The offerings that the rich put in the treasury were done so with great pomp and circumstance. It was meant to be a visual event to all that “I have contributed greatly to the church and worthy of much deserved attention.” Surely they will put my name on a room in the synagogue. Or maybe a good prayer bench. But Jesus noticed the widow. A woman who was surviving by the gifts of others. Some in the day would have probably considered her a beggar. She most likely was not well dressed, was on the fringe of society, was not important, and carried no weight. But Jesus saw her and took notice. 
2. God does not use man’s standard to evaluate. She put in a penny. We will not even stop and bend down to pick up a penny. I mean, I will, but I am unbelievably cheap. Frugal, I like to call it. Just ask my family. Think about where she ranked that day on the Giver’s Leader Board. Not at the top. Probably did not even make the cut to have her name listed. She would have been listed under “Other Givers”. Yet God knew that after the rich gave, they were still rich. She not only gave all she had that day, but gave “all she had to live on”. That means she really didn’t know where her next meal was coming from.   
3. God commends our faith in His promise to provide for us. Just like the widow of Zarephath who gave Elijah her last meal. Both of these women were counting on the promise that God will provide. It’s usually not the way we draw it up. In my case, it was never the way I clearly explained to God how I thought He should do this or that. I’m convinced He finds way too much pleasure in this never-ending lesson for me. Never leaves me doubting who came through, though. 

One of my favorite C.S. Lewis quotes. “I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditure excludes them.” 

Wow! Not there yet. 

So, at the end of the day, what is the posture/condition of your heart? That is what God looks at, evaluates, and finds pleasure in. Don’t you know that this brief encounter had the disciples pondering all day? This turned their religion upside down.  

I think it is interesting that the US penny was the first coin to have the words “In God We Trust.” Kinda fitting, isn’t it? 

Have you been able to muster up this kind of faith in His promises and sacrifice in spite of your situation? Check the posture of your heart today. 

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

• Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God’s Word.
• SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today’s passage?
• OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises? 
• APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you? 
• PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.

The Way of Jesus: 7 Marks of Discipleship

As we begin a new series, we encourage you to lean into the 7 Marks of Discipleship each week. The 7 Marks of Discipleship provide a simple tool to help us identify areas where we are thriving in our calling and where we can grow. Check here each week for a new 7 Marks Challenge that will encourage you to follow Jesus closer every day.