JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE THE MOMENT GOD CAME NEAR TO US.

The Widow’s Offering

It’s Tuesday. Jesus is drawing large crowds in Jerusalem and calling out the religious elite and their practices, making them feel increasingly threatened. While teaching around the temple courts, Jesus notices a poor widow in the Court of the Women. Against the wall of this court were 13 trumpet-shaped collection receptacles to receive offerings. These receptacles were open to the public to give offerings that would be used to help the poor.

Jesus takes a seat and watches the crowds coming in for the Passover Celebration. Every time coins drop into the trumpet-shaped receptacles, people know how much is given based on the sound that rings throughout the court. The difference between the rich and the poor is clear.

Two Coins

Jesus notices a poor widow drop two small copper coins into the offering. Coins were made of all kinds of material including gold, silver, bronze, and copper. The copper coin was called a lepta, or a mite, and was worth 1/64 of a denarius (one denarius equaled a day’s wage for a common worker). In today’s economy, the lepta would be worth 1/8 of a penny.

Jesus calls his disciples to him to share that this woman has given more into the offering than all the other people that day, including the very wealthy. She gave out of her poverty while others gave out of their wealth.

True Generosity

Generosity is a virtue that most people want to have ascribed to them. I am always moved by stories of generosity that change people’s lives. But it is so easy to fall into the trap of thinking that only “big” acts of generosity can make a difference. I have doubted that my contributions are “big” enough and have struggled to trust God with what I am giving—that he will still provide for me and my family.

On a recent family road trip, we stopped at a local coffee shop to fuel up. There was a homeless man outside the shop asking for money. I have to be honest. I avoided making eye contact as we entered the coffee shop. While we were waiting for coffee, my son decided to go back outside and wait for us…and sat down right beside this man! Alarmed, my wife gave me that look that said to go check out the situation. 

I found my son and this man having a conversation, and the man told me that I had a great son.  He then asked for money. I don’t carry cash, so I offered to buy him something from the coffee shop. He politely declined. I thought, “That would have been so easy for me to help this man and he is declining?” Then, I thought about all the snacks I had bought for the road trip. Snacks that I was looking forward to consuming over the next several hours. I went to the car and brought him some oatmeal crème pies (my favorite) and some chips. He knew this meant more to me than just buying him a coffee. His heart was moved and so was mine. We ended up praying for each other. What a blessing. On top of that, the coffee shop “accidentally” made us an extra coffee, so we gave that to him, too.

The widow’s two coins were a sacrifice to her, and Jesus knew it. My snacks weren’t much to give, but I am ashamed to say, they were more of a sacrifice to give away than going into the store to buy a coffee. It reminded me that God isn’t concerned with what we are giving, but rather our hearts and faith to give.