Giving in Hope

12/11- Hope Enables Giving When we Have Little- Widow’s Mite

1As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3“Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
     5Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 6“As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.”

Thoughts: Jesus and the disciples were in one of the seven wonders of that ancient world- the Temple.  The limestone shone brilliantly in the afternoon sun.  It was a symbol of the presence and power of God.  Yet Jesus was more pleased with this widow’s offering than all the glory of the Temple.  In truth, it is the dedication of hearts like hers that makes a Temple worthwhile.  She was all in.  There are some who say we should wait until we have plenty and then give out of that plenty.  This widow, in contrast, knew that all she had was a gift from God- and she lived it.  She gave not because she had a surplus, but because God meant so much to her.  I have seen some South Sudanese do the same thing.  They had no money for food, but they would put in what they had in the offering plate in trust that God would provide for their needs.  This is faith.
    But, this is not all.  The way the widow gave shows deep hope.  For widows in that day, there was no food bank or welfare system.  There was only begging.  Many in our day would have given up hope.  We trust in God when things go our way, but when things get tough we blame God and drop Him (like that puts us in a better position to get through our tough time!).  This widow was not mad at God for her humble situation.  She knew she needed to trust God in the valley of the shadow as well as beside still waters and green pastures.  To walk by faith and not by sight requires great trust and great patience.  It is a trust and patience that is normally rare, but in our very secular day is rare indeed.  Yet the widow teaches us not just about giving, but about faith and hope in God.  We should believe in the sun even when it Is not shining, and in God even when we do not see Him.  Jesus came to give hope to this widow.  He saw her need and saw her giving spirit.  He sees ours as well.  Put your hope in God and see how that changes your perspective, your expectations, your joy, your true freedom, your purpose, your love, and your hope. 

Prayer: Lord, you are my everything and I am willing to give everything to you.  But take what I have and multiply it for your glory.   

Song: What shall I give Him, poor as I am?  If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb. If I were a wise man I would do my part.  What shall I give Him?  I Give my heart. 

The Widow vs the Monument

1As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3“Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

5Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 6“As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down." (Luke 21)

Thoughts: These are two scenarios of the Temple- back to back focusing on hope.  The widow's story is a reminder of someone who had almost nothing- but gave the little she had completely to God hoping He would care for her.  He did and does.  God saw how much she gave, the spirit of her sacrificial gift, and He sought to bless her.  In fact, she was written of in the New Testament forever.

     The second story of hope is more of a worldly story.  The disciples were in awe with the structure and beauty of the Temple.  It was one of the seven wonders of the world in that day.  The Temple was given by gifts from God.  It was a holy place given by offerings.  But it also became a symbol of status and even of status quo.  Jesus said, however, that this magnificent human building would one day be overturned.  Within a generation (40  years- 70 AD), the Romans literally did that.  

Jesus seemed to show approval for the widow's gift.  He was less impressed with man-made efforts of luxury and self-created awe.  What counts in God's eyes are our heart.  Those giving at the Temple gave out of their surplus.  The widow gave all- not even knowing where she would eat.  

Prayer: Lord, let my eyes be fixed on you.  Let me not be over-awed by the world.  Let me be in awe of you.  

Hope in Giving

1While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. 2Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins.^a

3“I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. 4For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.” (Luke 21)

Thoughts: Hope and trust in God plays a very key role in giving.  In fact, we will only give out of our plenty and extra if we do not really trust God.  Hope is an anchor for the soul.  It is an anchor in the way that we give too. 
     This widow gave more than all the rest- not in quantity or in quality but in quiet trust in God.  She gave all she had.   She was only able to do that because she recognized that even the little she had was given to her by God.  For this reason her action gives her a permanent place in the Bible.  She clearly believed God would give her more. 
       I can remember that when we first went to seminary we sold everything we had to pay my tuition and to make deposits on our apartment.  Any money we got we continued to tithe on.  It seems like it is easier to tithe on the little we had then than to tithe on the enough we have now.  We had to live on faith and hope for there was nothing else to depend on.  The laundromat was in the basement and we lived on the third floor of these very old and rundown apartments.  Kay was going to the grocery store and remembered something she left.  She left our basket of laundry along with our last ten dollars we were going to use for food.  When she came back the ten dollars was gone.  We felt devastated!  We had no more money for even beans and rice.  We had taken a huge step of faith to go to so far away and some in our families had thought we were foolish to give up two good jobs to go to seminary (especially without jobs waiting on us).  Now we could not call back to our families for help or the Lord's call would be questioned.  So all night we prayed.  The next morning a check for over a thousand dollars came in the mail from Kay's retirement.  God had provided.  I am a deep believer that God provides.  It is not always immediate or when we want it.  But just as this widow trusted in God to provide, we are called to hope in God's provision- and live in that hope.  

Prayer: Lord, help me to live in your hope and be anchored to it.