GIVING FROM THE  HEART


In Mark 12:41-44 and Luke 21:1-4, "Jesus sat over against the treasury," as Mark said, "opposite and watched the people as they dropped in their financial gifts." He saw the rich cast in much, but what impressed Jesus was a widow who came and cast in two mites, (a mite was the smallest coin of that day and worth about one-eighth of a cent or one fourth of a penny).

To the astonishment of the disciples, Jesus said, "this poor widow has cast in more than all those who have cast into the treasury." Surely He was not talking about the amount or worth of the two mites. There were rich people who probably were casting in great amounts of money. So we have to look for the special meaning of Jesus. He said of the rich; they cast in out of their abundance, but she out of her own need did cast in all that she had and all her living.

Jesus is not criticizing large gifts, nor belittling those who gave abundantly, but He in emphasizing the heart and spirit in her giving. When we give our money to God, it should be with a heart of love and thanksgiving. Since God owns the world and all the money in it, it is not the sum or even money that God scales....its our hearts. We worship God with our money only as we do it in "Spirit and Truth" from a heart of love.

This woman gave her heart and her love. Jesus said this was greater. Our giving should not be mechanical or a formality but a true act of worship and recognition that He is God who gives us all things.

She gave herself with her two mites. There is nothing wrong with giving large sums and we should if we have been blessed, but regardless of the amount given, our hearts and love and worshipping Him in it.

I ran across a little something about the widow’s mite I would like to share with you. It came from "Pulpit Helpers."

If the widow’s mite had been deposited in the Bank of Jerusalem in a savings account and drawn four percent interest semi-annually; it would today be worth $4,800,000,000,000,000, 000,000. But placed in the treasury of God its value and blessing cannot be calculated.

It is not the money in the bank that blesses people but monies we invest in God’s Kingdom. Placing our monies in God’s kingdom is laying up treasures in heaven. God bless you and your giving. Do not despise the small gift.

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