Give From Your Means to Fulfill Needs

This morning as I continue to study abundance, I was led to Mark chapter 12 and to the passage of “The Widow’s Offering”.

“⁴¹And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. ⁴²And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. ⁴³And he called his disciples to him and said to them, ‘Truly I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. ⁴⁴For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.’” – Mark 12:41-44 (ESV)

Oh how often have I seen those that make a “splash” with their giving. I have witnessed the making of a spectacle and then making sure everyone knew they had given. I have been to charity events where there is “bidding” for auction items and the winning bid is for the cause, only to witness those with the largest pocketbooks gleefully yelling proclaiming to everyone just how they “won” the item.

I do not want it to sound as though I am speaking of everyone, because charity and causes and the Lord work with all that is given. What I am stating is that the abundance is not as meaningful as the giving from the heart and sacrificing one thing for another. The poor widow gave of her means to fulfill needs and Jesus was more moved by the “penny” she gave than the large sums from the abundance of others.

When you are giving, where is that coming from? Are you giving from your abundance? Are you giving from your means to fulfill needs?