Generosity--small but important gifts
Luke 21 The Widow's Offering
1As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.[a] 3"I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."
When I’ve read this story in the past, I’ve had a difficult time identifying with the woman in the story. After all, I am not a widow; I don’t live in the time of Jesus, and like the rich people in the story, I have plenty to take care of my needs. So what am I to learn from this woman’s incredible generosity?
I think what’s held me back from understanding this story personally is that I take the currency of coins too literally. Money is only one way God provides for us. We also have time, energy, health, intellect, enthusiasm and ideas—and these are just a few examples. God provides for us on many levels, but like money, not all of us have the same amount.
That’s ok. Jesus points out that just because the woman’s coins were a small gift, they were everything to her. The generosity of the woman was not based on amount, but on heart.
But though I have much, I am poor—energy-poor that is. I’ve always been a low-energy person, but this last year has been worse than usual. I find myself carefully guarding my energy since I “crashed” this spring. Simple things are difficult: getting to church, making phone calls, just being with people. I budget my energy like a small checking account, carefully monitoring it so I don’t go in the red…because going in the red is painful, and there’s a high price to be paid.
The guarding of my energy is like the hoarding of money that a poor widow might be tempted to do. But here in Scripture, Jesus witnessed a poor widow giving her all. It didn’t look like much…just two little coins. It wouldn’t seem to make much of a difference in the finances of the temple, but she gave to God generously. In the same way, my efforts to live to honor God may look frail and feeble. It may seem like I have little impact at all. But Jesus encouraged her efforts.
One thing I notice is that she didn’t give what she didn’t have…but she gave her all. I don’t need to feel bad that my gift is not as large as other people’s gifts. Maybe I only have one phone call in me today. The question is, will I use that energy for what God wants, or for what I want? Will I give it to the temple or to someone else?
What are you poor in today? How can you be generous with what you have in that area? How can you be sure you are giving to God and not to what you or others want?
Lord, give me a generous heart to give you my all. Give me wisdom to see what I have to give and not give more than belongs to me. Reveal to me how you want me to use my energy today and help me be a good steward of all you graciously provide. I love you.
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