Giving in Faith

21He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; 2he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. 3He said, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; 4for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.’ ~ Luke 24:1-4 

Several years ago, I went to a PAUMCS (Professional Association of United Methodist Church Secretaries) Convention in Pasadena, California.  Between meetings, they had items for sale, one of which was a necklace with a coin that had been found at a dig near the old Temple of Jerusalem.  It is said that it was a widow's mite - worth very little in its day - even less than a penny is to us today.   

In Jesus' time, He spoke of the temple treasury, where many wealthy people would make a production of how much they were giving as an offering to God.  In comparison, this poor widow quietly drops in two small coins - widows mites - that were a mere pitance compared to the offerings of the others.  How could her two small coins be more than the amount of the other offerings?   

If you compared it to the percentage of what each person was giving at the time, those making a large production of their offerings and how much they were giving were giving a mere pitance in the percentage of what they had - giving from their excess and not greatly affecting how they would be able to support themselves on what they kept.  This poor widow gave ALL she had - 100% - as an offering to God, knowing that God would provide for her, even though she now had nothing left to give.  Her faith in God and His provision for her was far greater than that of the more wealthy givers.  Those giving from their excess didn't trust God to take care of them.  Instead, those that were more financially well off trusted in themselves and what they were able to provide to take care of them instead of trusting in God. 

Where do you put your faith?  In yourself and what you can provide?  Or do you put your faith in God and what He can give you?  The decision is yours to make.  

Prayer 

Heavenly Father,

You provide all that we have.  Help us to remember that when we gift back to You from that which You have provided to us.  Let us always put our faith in You and not ourselves to see that we have all that we need.  Amen.

~ Wendy Miller