Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
Have our ever put in all that you had to live on in any situation of life? In the occupational settings we are very much rewarded for putting in all we have. In the athletic world we often refer to this type of commitment as giving 110%. In educational settings anyone who puts in all they have is very much rewarded with degrees and academic status. In the above story we read about Jesus’ observations about a poor widow who dropped a small coin into the offering box outside the Temple. Imagine sitting there and seeing the rich and the pious drop their money into the box. You could almost imagine their public display of their religious sacrifice in giving. This poor woman gave her life living. Obviously this demonstrates Jesus omniscience. He knew what she had to live on. He knows what sacrifice we make for serving Him. He knows when we give all our finances. He knows when we give all our energy toward a project for Him. He knows when we are exhausted because of our service toward the saints in duty toward Him. He knows when we give all our time for His work. He also knows when we hold back each of those things and use them for ourselves. He knows when we are all in and He knows when we are holding back. Note this story later in the New Testament:
Acts 5:1-6 (ESV)
But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.
The issue with Ananias and Sapphira was not that they held something back. The issue was that they said they put in all they had from the sale of the property. God wants a true heart of worship. He knows what we give to Him and what we hold back.
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