For they all gave
out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she
possessed—all she had to live on. Mark 12:44
This is one of
those narratives that should cause each and every one of us to pause in our
tracks. For the focus of this narrative from Mark 12:41-44 observes the heart
of a widow and it’s the heart that the Lord takes into consideration. Let us then
consider the ministries that we’re involved in and ask ourselves the question “do
we give our time, energy, money, praise, worship out of a surplus of
convenience or are we like the widow who gives her everything?”
Sitting across
from the temple treasury, He watched how the crowd dropped money into the
treasury. Many rich people were putting in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and dropped in two tiny coins
worth very little.[u] 43 Summoning
His disciples, He said to them, “I assure you: This poor
widow has put in more than all those giving to the temple treasury. 44 For
they all gave out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in
everything she possessed—all she had to live on.” Mark 12:41-44
I’ve read and heard
stories on reformers of the past, men who I consider ‘giants’ for the Lord. These
ministries of which involve John Calvin, Charles Spurgeon, George Whitfield,
David Brainard and Jonathan Edwards are admirable in their own right. And
admittedly I fall into the trap of pride at times, presupposing that my
ministries are of little value in comparison to these men. And yet when I read
of a poor widow who puts two coins into the temple treasury, I’m humbled. What
we don’t know about this woman is of equal importance to what we do know of
this woman! We don’t know her name and nor do we know if she had any monetary
blessing by the Lord. And yet, in her calling as a poor widow, she provides two
coins offered up to the Lord. Perhaps this may have been enough for her to eat
for one day. The point that Christ makes in verse 44 is simply put, she gave
her everything! And though we may not know her name, she ought to be considered
as a spiritual giant as well; someone whom we can look up to in admiration of
their ministry to the Lord.
And so we ought
to consider the things that we have. What Christ mentions of in verse 44 can
also be applied to any aspect of our own ministry. For this woman presented her
heart for everyone to see, it was obvious she loved the Lord her God. And thus
we ought to consider this question “is the Lord precious in our life?” Do we
have right affections like this widow? Are we too willing to give our
everything for the ministry the Lord has called us to? I imagine this woman had
immense trust in the Lord when she placed those two coins in to the temple
treasury, her life given into the Lord’s hands. Do we trust the Lord like this
woman did? Do we honour the Lord as this woman did with her life?
This passage is
not so much about money as it is about where affections are. Christ makes this
clear in the final verse, affections matter! Let us then encourage one another
to strive, to press on and give our everything to the Lord! Whether it’s money,
time, praise and worship, whatever it is, let us with confidence say that we’re
running this race and just like the Apostle Paul, let’s have that confidence at
the end of our time to look back over our life and say with consideration unto
the Lord “I have fought the good fight, I have finished
the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7
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