“He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have 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 NRSV) [1]
According to what Jesus said the people must not have been able to tell how much money this woman had by what she wore. Everyone but Jesus probably thought that she was giving too little to the temple treasury. This giving was done out in public for everyone to see. Jesus knew everything about her just like He knows everything about us. He knew that she did not have much in worldly goods but gave all she had to give to the work of God.
You may not have much and you might think you don’t even have enough to give to the Lord’s work. You might be embarrassed to give the little bit that you have. Churches today don’t have containers where everyone can see what you are giving but still it might be possible for those sitting around you to see what you are giving. You don’t need to be ashamed. God can use all that you give. Read what Jesus did with a boy’s lunch:
“‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?’ Jesus said, ‘Make the people sit down.’ Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted.” (John 6:9-11 NRSV)
Those five loaves and two little fish fed as many as 25000 people. Later someone gave Jesus seven loaves and some fish to feed 4000 men plus their families. God takes whatever you give to him and multiplies it for his work. Below is an account of how God used a girl and her penny for his glory:
The story is told of a child in India going to the home of a missionary. The child wanted to do something to help the work of missions, so she gave the missionary a penny. The penny bought a Christian tract which was placed in a box, from which anyone who wanted a tract could take one free. The tract came into the hands of a head-hunter who later became converted. A few years later, a church was built there. Fifteen hundred natives were saved from heathenism. One shiny penny was given to Jesus with a heart of love by a little child, but the results of that penny’s work made it priceless indeed. [2]
You don’t know what little you have can do in God’s hands. Give it all to him.
By Dean W. Masters
dwmasters@earthlink.net Owner of the Masters List: http://shaned.net/mailman/listinfo/masterslist_shaned.net
Unedited redistribution approved.
[1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. 1996, c1989. Thomas Nelson: Nashville
[2]Tan, P. L. 1996, c1979. Encyclopedia of 7700 illustrations : [a treasury of illustrations, anecdotes, facts and quotations for pastors, teachers and Christian workers]. Bible Communications: Garland TX