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 gave to the temple treasury out of
their abundance. They wouldn't even miss what they gave. It really cost them
nothing. 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 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 God to provide for her. She certainly did not give so others would see
her gift and be impressed. Those who noticed her gift would have laughed at it
because it was so small. Her gift identified her as poor. Her gift would not do
much to provide for the needs of the temple. But God was very pleased with her
gift, because it came out of her sacrifice and 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, it was the attitude of the heart that mattered to God. That's still
true today. Gifts that count with God are gifts that come out of sacrifice and are
given out of a heart that loves Him.
His, by Grace, Steve
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