She is mentioned in one of the world's best selling books. Her example of giving has been taught to others for generations. Yet, her name is never given. She is only identified as, a poor widow. (Mark 12:41-44, NKJV)
Jesus sat opposite the treasury and watched the people as they put money in. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and put in two mites. Out of her poverty she put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.
What is missing in the above text? What are her thoughts? Can we know what she was thinking by her mere actions? Let's take a look.
If Jesus saw what they put in the treasury, do you think others did the same? As humans we have the possibility of having an ego. Sometimes, we may do good to please that ego instead of pleasing God. It is a temptation the Devil knows all about. He was banished from heaven because of it, or a form of it. Jesus gives us instructions of how to avoid being egotistical in Matthew 6:1-4. Yes. I have to watch out for this.
This widow was in line with the rich. What could have been her thoughts, seeing others putting in much? Sorry to say, my ego would have been screaming at me to get at the end of the line or wait until everyone else had given and gone home. ( Yes, this is a fault I am working on and I admit, it is hard sometimes to allow myself to be vulnerable as this widow.)
What does this widow show us, without words, by her actions? She shows:
Humility-She is not afraid of being seen as an impoverished widow among those giving more than she could.
Trust-She displayed her dependence on God for her future sustenance. (I wonder if she had heard Christ speak these words in Matthew 6:24-34)
Courage-Would any of those standing in line had the courage to give all they had as she did? (Christ gives us an example of one that couldn't in Luke 18:18-23)
Gratitude-I do not know, as a widow, where she got the two mites to give. I do believe she was grateful she had them to give. (She didn't bury it. She used it to show how thankful she was to have something to give. Do you remember the one talent man in Matthew 25:24-30. He buried his.)
Love for God-The example Christ gives us is she gave all that she had and in this was loving her God with all of her heart, with all her soul, and with all her strength. (Deut. 6: 5-6) Her perfect love cast out all of her fears.
It doesn't matter if you are rich or poor, God is going to look at what is in your heart and not at your possessions or lack of, and we can be grateful for this. We are to display the above characteristics no matter what our place in life is.
These are just my thoughts and opinions on this passage. You may have different thoughts or better than the above. What is amazing to me is Christ noticed what she did and gave us, and those after us, something to think about on the lines of giving to God and trusting in His love and provisions for us.
I wonder if she ever knew Christ used her giving that day as an example for all?
Thank you so much for reading.
Rick Hepler
rhepler52@gmail.com
www.rick-hepler.blogspot.com
https://amzn.to/2M72tZL
