When Giving Releases Abundance
Wednesday, June 12, 2013 Posted by Sara
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And 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. For 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
I read this passage imagining Jesus people watching. I wonder at all the thoughts that ran through his mind while watching the people give into the offering box. All we know is a widow caught his attention. I wonder if she ever knew how she moved God's heart that day. Jesus calls over his disciples and gives them a little lesson on the heart of giving. What does it look like to give out of abundance vs. out of poverty? Not that Jesus directly condemns those who gave out of their abundance, but rather he is showing us the difference. And there's something about giving when you don't have much to give that grabs the attention of heaven.
One day when I was talking to God about this passage I recall saying to him, "Lord, she might have given you all she had!" And His response to me was, "Yes, and so I gave her all I had." Not long after this verse we enter into Jesus final days and his sacrifice on the cross. And just like the widow, Jesus, who had made himself nothing, gave everything. What was released in the sacrifice was abundance.
God is captivated by a generous heart. God can use our simple generosity to unleash His kingdom. I find myself challenged this week to ask the Lord what can I offer up to Him, that He might bring abundance to strangers, to friends, to family.
