Mark 12:43-44
I
think sometimes the emphasis in giving is too often on the size of the gift. I
think a greater gauge of the gift given is what remains after the gift is
given. A better question to ask might be how much is left after the check
clears the bank account. If it doesn’t cause a change in lifestyle, then
perhaps the gift wasn’t big enough to matter.
Some
folks give to their own foundations. They are giving to themselves. They get to
control the money that gets spent, and on what causes it gets spent, and how
fast it gets spent. It is almost like they have just moved the money from one
checkbook to another. And even the money they give to their own back pocket
doesn’t really amount to much of anything compared to their whole net worth.
Others
seem to live as givers. They are constantly helping other people. What is
theirs is there to share. A need arises, and if they can, they meet it. No
worries about the future. They just give joyfully, knowing that their needs
will be taken care of. They don’t have lots to spare. No large bank accounts or
overseas investments. They live modestly and give generously.
And
what makes the difference between these two kinds of people? Their heart
attitude. It has been said that either you have your money or your money has
you. You control it or it controls you.
Jesus
is doing something that today would be considered very rude. He is watching
people put their money in the offering box. And He noticed something. People
were giving different amounts, some gave large amounts, and one woman in
particular gave almost nothing. Imagine that. She gave almost nothing. Why did
she even bother giving? What she gave didn’t really make a difference to the
maintenance of the Temple. The money she gave could be picked up off the ground
in the parking lot.
It
is the big gifts that really make a difference, right? They really change
things, build buildings, create vaccines, train doctors. But this is not the
reality. It is not the rich who give the most in supporting charities. It is
everyday people, more conservative and religious. In fact Americans give seven
times more per person than any other industrialized nation. We are also more
religious than any other industrialized nation. There is a correlation between
the two!
This
woman who approached the offering box that day did something extra-ordinary.
Jesus said she gave everything she had. She didn’t skim a little bit off the
top and hand it over, she dug down deep. The offering she gave cost her
something, perhaps her next meal or two. Perhaps her week’s rent. Maybe her
full data plan on her cell phone. Maybe her daily drive through at her favorite
coffee shop. NO! Jesus said it was everything she had to live on! What she gave
was what she had, all of it.
We
don’t know what motivated her to give, but it certainly wasn’t so that her
generosity would be noticed. No one would say she was generous. She gave almost
nothing. But she gave everything. When was the last time you gave everything?
Perhaps, if you are like most people, never. Maybe it is time to be open to the
Spirit’s prompting. Perhaps He will direct you to be this kind of giver.