A Grateful Heart

 

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK

A GRATEFUL HEART

Mark 12:41-44

41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.   43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything — all she had to live on." 

NIV

It is interesting that Jesus knew all about this poor widow. He knew her two small coins were all that she had. The exact amount in terms of value that we would ascribe to these two coins is something less than one of our pennies, but then we also do not know the value of soft goods or food on that day. Even in our lifetime, we remember paying one nickel for a candy bar, which today would cost us well over a dollar, maybe even two depending on the new improved over-enlarged size. We could do this with nearly all the soft goods and food of our present-day compared to when we were just children. The point being is all we know is that she could have survived the day or the next on the coins she put into the treasury. However, she put all she had, and Jesus knew it. First, we see the divine nature of Jesus, even in his human form. His divine knowledge of her life reveals that he also has this divine knowledge of our lives. Because he compared her giving to those who gave out of their wealth and told his disciples that she gave more, it has to reveal his knowledge of both the wealthy’s and this poor widows' lives. However, the point that Jesus is making is about the heart of the giver. It certainly is not about the truth that we should empty our bank accounts and give all that we have to the church. However, on the other hand, those rich people did give large amounts of money, but it would not cost them any pain of suffering or loss of any ability to enjoy a full meal while wearing their fine clothing in their well-furnished homes.  Then again, their giving may well have been a showing of their wealth, and position in society. But this poor widow made no show, for she had nothing to show, but just a few small coins, nothing of real value, except Jesus said her giving was the most valuable of all. Her heart was right, for if she gave her all, she also must have had complete faith that God would supply all her needs. To be absolutely penniless, without any means whatsoever to buy food, reminds us of the widow who made bread for Elijah as we are told of in 1Kings 17. She was so poor that when Elijah was told to go to her, she was gathering sticks to make a meal for herself and her son so they could die. She was at her last, barely enough oil and flour to make any amount of bread. Yet because she had faith and made what bread she could, all that she had, those jars of oil and flour never ran dry.  In addition, when her son did die, Elijah petitioned the Lord three times as he laid upon the dead boy’s body and God brought him back to life. This widow was rewarded greatly for her faith in giving everything she had, just as this widow with the two small coins would be. This is a heart issue, not an amount issue. We make such a big deal about tithing, giving a mere ten percent out of our wealth. But again it is not about the tithe, it is not about the amount, it is about the attitude of our heart. Do we tithe out of a sense of duty, or out of a heart filled with joy and gratitude? Do we tithe or give any amount because we are given a tax write-off or for that matter have our giving recorded in the church treasury? Surely not, for we give out of our heart, out of our thankfulness to our Lord for all that he has bestowed upon us. Jesus tells us that with what measure we give it will be given unto us. Luke 6:37-38

 38 Give , and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." 

NIV

Even pressed down, shaken together and running over, it will be poured into our laps, However, that is not the reason this widow gave her two small coins, yet we have to believe that Jesus knew what she gave, he saw to it more was poured into her lap. It is and always has been a heart issue concerning giving to the treasury of the church. When our heart is right, we need not worry about our life, for our Lord will take care of us, he will provide, he will pour, running over into our lives, with the same measure we use, he will measure unto us. We give, not out of compulsion, but out of a grateful heart.