The widow's mite

Scripture:  Mark 12:43-44  “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box.  For they are contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Observations:  Deuteronomy chapters 1 and 2 were a recap of what had happened to the Israelites on their journey to the Promised Land – the good and the bad.  In Mark, the Parable of the Tenants prophesied again (4th time in Mark) about Jesus’ impending death.  The Pharisees and Herodians attempted to trap Jesus concerning tribute to be paid to Caesar.  The Sadducees tried to trip Jesus up concerning the  of the dead (which they didn’t believe in).  Jesus gave us the most important commandment – “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”  That is pretty much all of us.    The disciples were warned about being like the scribes who were extremely prideful.

Application:  Do we give sacrificially to the Lord?  It isn’t just our money, but do we give our time?  This widow had no one to turn to.  Yet, she loved the Lord so much and wanted to honor him with her giving.  She trusted the Lord to be her provision.  Luke 12:24 tells us :” Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!”  We need to trust and give.

Prayer:  Lord, I ask you to remove any stinginess from my heart.  Help me to trust you in the good times and the bad.  Help me to realize material goods are a waste of my money when there are poor living homeless and hungry.  Direct us, oh Lord I pray.

​Tomorrow’s Readings:  Deuteronomy 3-4; Psalm 36; Mark 13