41-44 Sitting across from the offering box, he was observing how the crowd tossed money in for the collection. Many of the rich were making large contributions. One poor widow came up and put in two small coins—a measly two cents. Jesus called his disciples over and said, “The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all.”
The story of the poor widow reminds us that we are called to live and give beyond our means. We can give even out of our needs and all will be well.
Fear of not having enough makes it hard for us to hear and believe that giving is so important. We should do it even when we can’t afford to do it. It is the greatest joy in life, whether we have little or much. To give much because we have been given much, we have been loved much.
She was in the hospital, dying. She had lived a simple life; devout wife, faithful church worker, loyal friend. She hadn’t asked for much and she was happy with what she had.
I stopped to see her and she asked me to get her purse out of the closet. She opened it and gave me some bills. Later I discovered that it was over $400, probably close to all she had.
Then I remembered the look of joy in her eye as she gave me the money and said, “use it in the church.“
When she died all she had was auctioned off and added to this as a memorial to spread God’s love in our lives. It wasn’t much but it was all she had. And it was given with joy!
"That which is given away is not wasted."
City of Joy
Prayer thought for the week: “Lord, make me thankful and generous.
Then my faith will indeed be ‘active in love’.”
No comments:
Post a Comment