Luke 21:1-4 “As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
Just over a month ago, the financial markets began to fall and again there was talk of recession. This often makes us all cautious, and it may be all the more necessary in these times of financial constraint to act with restraint. Yet, even in such situations, generosity can be a sign of the goodness of God.
Generosity of course is relative. Solomon prayed: Keep me from sacrifices that cost me nothing. Teach me true large-heartedness like that of the poor widow, a generosity that gives in secret, left hand not knowing what right hand is doing, and that gives until it hurts.
Jesus is surprisingly non-judgmental. He does not condemn the temple authorities for avarice or the rich who give alms out of their surplus wealth. He simply points out that the poor widow gives more than anyone else because she gives her last penny. She has left herself nothing to live on. Jesus allows us to draw our own conclusions and discover what implications the event has on us. We may well ask, what are my conclusions? Can I share them with Him in prayer?
It is estimated that if the widow's mite had been deposited at the "First National Bank, Jerusalem" to draw four percent interest biannually, the fund today would total £4 trillion. If a bank on earth could multiply the widow's mite to such an astronomical figure, think what treasures this dedicated woman will have in heaven where "moth and rust doth not corrupt."
Lord, help us to be generous and share the many gifts you have bestowed on us. Please help us to help those who cannot help themselves, teach us how to give and not count the cost.
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