Joshua 24:29-Judges 1:15; Luke 21:1-4; Psalms 89:46-52; Proverbs 21:5-7
NT: “He looked up and saw the rich dropping their offerings into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow dropping in two tiny coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For all these people have put in gifts out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”” (Luke 21:1-4 CSB)
According to Jesus, generosity is not measured by the amount that you give, but by the sacrifice required to give what you give. The rich may have been giving enormous sums to the temple, but it was a fraction of their wealth and did not require much sacrifice. On the other hand, the poor widow barely gave anything – but what she gave was all that she had. Worshipful devotion to the Lord is measured in the same way. There are some that give small fractions of their life in service to the Lord, and they self-righteously consider themselves saintly in their devotion – yet there are others that give their entire lives to the Lord and are surrendered to Him completely. Living in a 1st World Nation, it is difficult to really comprehend what true generosity and complete devotion looks like. The poorest in our nation would be seen as rich by 3rd World standards – yet we will say things like, “I really don’t have enough margin in my budget to help right now.” I have had the honor to work alongside believers in a couple of 3rd World nations, and to see how they give and serve is convicting and humbling. Though they may not have much according to American standards – what they do have (time, treasure, and talent) is 100% sown into the Kingdom of God, and the fruit of their meager offerings is astounding.
Jamie Hicks 