A Heart Issue

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE

A HEART ISSUE

Luke 21:1-4

21:1 As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.   3 "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on." 

NIV

Of course, the wealthy can give a larger amount than the poor can, but that is not the measure of a person. However, it does seem in the church today that those who have a great deal of means, and give large amounts out of their wealth, although it might be just their tithe, are treated a little better than those who cannot give that large amount of money. We have seen it, witnessed it in a few of the churches we have attended. Those of large means were always found to be on the church board of other positions overseeing the financial position of the church. Jesus made it clear we are not measured by the amount we give but by the condition of our hearts. This poor widow had a heart that was sold out to God, as she gave all she had, although it was not anything in value compared to the gift of the wealthy. We should not be measured by the amount we give but by the amount of our hearts. God is the only one who should be measuring us. Interestingly, we seem to measure each other more than we should. We look at how others are attired, what kind of cars they drive, and all the other physical things in this world, including what kind of influence they have in the church. We look on the outside, just as Jesus said we do, while He looks at the inside, he sees our heart. This is not to say the rich cannot have a heart for God. Jesus is simply comparing their giving has no effect on their lifestyle, while this widow represents those who give and it costs them in a greater way. Perhaps they give and then cannot pay a bill, or something else, like not being able to go out to eat, or some other need is foregone, or must be put on hold. Let us not get caught up in that kind of mismeasuring of others, but simply try to live our lives with a heart sold out to God. Whatever that looks like may be different for each of us, but what it looks like on the outside is not the issue, for all we need to be concerned about is what God sees in our hearts as our lives in Christ are a heart issue.