Good Morning Friends,
"As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 'I tell you the truth,' 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.'" (Luke 21:1-4)
It's not about the size of the gift that is given to God, but about the heart attitude with which it is given.
The rich who put their gifts into the temple treasury gave out of their abundance. They wouldn't even miss what they gave. It really cost them nothing. And the reason many of them gave was not out of a desire to help, but out of a desire to be seen by others. They wanted others to know they were wealthy and could give large gifts. They wanted others to know they were generous and applaud their large gifts. Many gave out of their desire for the praise and respect of other men.
The poor widow gave out of her poverty. She put in very little, but it was all she had. She held nothing back from God. She gave all that she had to live on. It was an act of great faith on her part. She was trusting that God would provide for her. She certainly did not give so that others would see her gift and be impressed. Those who noticed her gift at all would have laughed at it because it was so small. Her gift identified her as poor. Her gift would not do much of anything to provide for the needs of the temple. But God was very pleased with her gift, because it came out of her sacrifice and it came out of a heart that loved God and wanted to give Him what she could.
It wasn't the size of the gift that mattered that day at the temple, it was the attitude of the heart with which the gift was given that mattered to God. And that's still true today. Gifts that count with God are gifts that come out of sacrifice and gifts that are given out of a heart that loves Him.
His, by Grace,
Steve
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