June 16, 2016
RICH MAN OR POOR WIDOW?
Mark 12:41–44
Emily Curtis
Central Truth
God's desire is for us to rely solely on Him and obey the Holy Spirit. He knows whether we are giving from abundance or lack and whether we're cheerful or reluctant. If our heart is fully surrendered to Him, we view all we have as His.
Key Verse | Mark 12:44
"For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on." (Mark 12:44)
Mark 12:41–44
The Widow's Offering
41 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 1 12:42 Greek two lepta, which make a kodrantes; a kodrantes (Latin quadrans) was a Roman copper coin worth about 1/64 of a denarius (which was a day's wage for a laborer) 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
Footnotes
[1] 12:42 Greek two lepta, which make a kodrantes; a kodrantes (Latin quadrans) was a Roman copper coin worth about 1/64 of a denarius (which was a day's wage for a laborer)Dive Deeper | Mark 12:41–44
Talking about giving isn't necessarily a hot topic. Is it possibly because our view of whom everything belongs to is skewed? Yet, as Anne Frank said, "No one has ever become poor by giving."
I used to view all I had as things that I had acquired. This changed about six years ago when the Lord humbled me in a big way. Since then, I see things according to Psalm 24:1 (NLT): "A psalm of David. The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him."
The best part about living this way is how fun it is to give as the Lord leads! God has spoken to me so clearly at times that I'm amazed and sometimes moved to tears at how He would allow me to watch Him meet a need in someone else's life. One way to stretch myself in this area is to be held accountable (in marriage and community) about how I steward my money.
Sometimes, it honestly feels a little awkward not to make decisions before consulting others, but as Proverbs 1:5 states, "Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance."
Interestingly, the poor widow had two coins that didn't even amount to one day's wages. She could have easily just given one and held on to the other. Her offering was worth more because it cost her more to give it. Her sacrifice expressed her love for God and her complete trust in Him to sustain her.
In Matthew 6:21 Jesus says, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Where is your treasure—in things of this world or things eternal? Are you using your resources (time, talent, and treasure) to serve yourself or others? Would others say your giving is comfortable or sacrificial? Let us learn from this widow the blessing of giving.
Discussion Questions
1. Do I trust the Lord to meet my every need, or do I think I am capable?
2. Am I stewarding my resources well, or do I even know where my money goes?
3. Am I giving from the heart or out of obligation?
4. How can I create more margin to give to those in need?