Giving All

Mark 12:41-44

My dad would tell the story of going with a few guys to a small Black Baptist Church when he was a young man and was blown away by the way they took the offering.  He said they passed the buckets and then brought it to the pastor and he counted the money.  And then he told the deacons to lock the doors and pass the buckets again, but after the second count, they still did not have the amount needed, so they passed them once more.  My dad said he and his friends were getting a little concerned that this might keep going for a long time.  So they put some change in the bucket, and after the third offering, the pastor had them open the doors.  That is not what Jesus did, but He did sit and watch who gave what and shared this insight with us.

 ^“ And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums.  And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny.  And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “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.”

Can you imagine a young Rabbi is sitting watching what goes into the offering box, and the people see and that it is time for the flesh to showoff?  I can only imagine Lew watching Samuel go back into his purse and grab a few more coins and almost count them out as they go into the offering box.  So Samuel who is not to be outdone also goes back for more coins and makes sure he gives more than anyone else has and then looks at the young Rabbi for approval.  But the little widow has only two coins, not worth much, they are copper and not gold or silver, but it is all she has.  It does not bother her that the Rabbi is watching, she may not even have seen him in that she been talking to the Father thanking Him for allowing her to give.  

Now that brings us back to what Jesus said, what about me when have I given out of my poverty, and the answer is never.  But I do have the blessing to give out of my abundance, and not for show, but with a grateful heart, for like the widow I understand I’m blessed when 

I have much or little.  In 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice