How one gives to God is a good reflection of one’s love
for Him. We know that true giving is not just about the amount we put into the
offering bag but also the attitude that motivates our giving. No wonder the
Lord chose, as His parting message from the temple, this important issue about
giving. Knowing that money speaks volumes, the Lord stationed Himself near the
treasury. Bear in mind that Mark 12:41-44 happened around the Passover period
and millions of people would have been in Jerusalem. And many would have brought
their offerings to put into the treasury as their giving to God.
At the treasury would be thirteen bronze treasure
chests, each one was shaped like an inverted horn, narrow at the top and large
at the bottom. These treasury chests were known as the Trumpets. And Jesus sat
opposite the treasury and found a place where He could silently observe the manner
people gave. Like them, we may not feel it, but God is everywhere present, and He
is still watching over us. It pays to know that He is still silently watching during
our offering time in service. He is still concerned about each worshiper’s attitude
in giving, and we can be equally sure that He is also concerned when the worshipers
are being exploited at offering time.
What did the Lord see as He sat there that day? The last
part of verse 41 tells us that he saw many rich people came and threw in large
amount of money. This is not an indication of the Lord’s disapproval. It merely
tells us that many rich souls came and gave. There must have been many who came
with very noble motives. And then, there were those who came with motives and
attitudes that brought displeasure to Him.
However, on that day the Lord saw something that brought
great delight to Him. Verse 42 tells us that he saw a poor widow came and put
in two copper coins that amount to only a cent. We need to know that from her
dressing everyone knew she was a widow and poor. She was the personification of
a tough and difficult life. She approached the Trumpet stealthily and quietly,
she wanted her giving to be as inconspicuous as possible. She did not want to be
noticed. Her whole orientation was to please God and God alone. Unknown to her,
the Lord Jesus saw everything - her heart and attitude. What the widow did needed no word but she
spoke volumes. What she “said” could be seen. Simply put, it’s her, “I love You
Lord. All that I have and all that I am, they are Yours. I willingly give them
to You.” True admirable devotion!
What she did drew a commendation form the Lord. So
calling His disciples aside, the Lord told them, "Truly I say to you, this widow out in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty,put in all she owned, all she had to live on. Her giving was so different from many. She came with the right attitude in her heart. Then she came believing it's important to express her total love for the Lord, even if it means all that she had.
God does not want our money. He wants us. But we also know that our financial offering is a clear indicator of how much we love Him. For where our treasure is, that's where our heart will be also The remedy to our unwilling giving is to truly love the Lord with all our heart. It will change our attitude concerning our giving.
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