Friday 8 June 2007

She gave all that she had

“For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.” - Mark 12v44

One day Jesus sat in the Temple watching people drop they gifts into the money box. We know from other places that the Pharisees made a big show out of their offering. To be fair, they did give a lot. They wanted everyone to know how good they were. The Jesus saw a poor widow. As she walked past she reached into her bag and drew out all that she had, two tiny copper coins. Mark tells is they were worth one quadrans. A quadrans was worth 1/64 of a day’s wages. Even if we figure a modern eight hour day at eight euro an hour she dropped in, at the very most, one euro.

This is not a lot of money to our reckoning. The Pharisees gave a fortune; this poor widow gave what wouldn’t even buy the priest a cup of coffee. Who gave more? Jesus said there was no contest – the poor widow gave more. The Pharisees gave out of their abundance; she gave out of her poverty.

The amount of our giving is not what is important in God’s sight. God cares about the heart and His sees our lives and our action in that light. We can’t give more than we have, but we can give all that we have. Is our all asking too much when He gave His all for us?

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