Thursday, February 9, 2012

“What’s the Scoop on……the Widow with the Two Coins?”


The woman that Annie taught about today is known to us as “the widow with the two coins”.  Although we do not know her name, I am certain that Jesus does. The little that we do know about her comes from Mark 12:41-44,  (the same account can be found in Luke 21:1-4). These few verses convey an important message that Jesus wants us to take to heart.

Our lesson today was centered on the above verses. However, while I was discussing this post with Arlene, she pointed out that the snapshot we see of the widow comes at the end of a long passage when Jesus is teaching in the temple courts.  Looking at what Jesus was teaching immediately before sharing His observations of the widow, will shed some additional light on its meaning.  Allow me to set the stage:  Jesus is in the temple teaching to a large crowd.  He is warning those listening about the teachers of the law.  He speaks about their propensity to live in a way that glorifies themselves rather than God: lives marked by pride, hypocrisy, and greed.   They exploit others for their own financial gain, even widows.  Jesus says in Mark 12:40, “They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely".

As if on queue, a widow approaches the place where the freewill offerings were collected.  What sets apart a freewill offering from the other offerings is that it is given through a willing spirit and a stirred heart.  “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7).  As Jesus sits and watches, He sees many rich men donate large sums of money, drawing attention to themselves in the process. This poor widow then gives her offering of two small coins, which were worth practically nothing. “Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on” (Mark 12:43-44).

What a contrast!  First, we see the teachers of the law. One word can describe their actions: they took (remember, they devoured widows’ houses).  What does Jesus show us about the widow? She gave.  Not only did she give, but she freely gave all that she had!

Annie pointed out that there are many ways in which we can give.  What we freely offer to the Lord is not limited to finances. We can give of our time, our attention, our love, and ultimately, ourselves.  God is not looking for the quantity of our gifts, but the quality. The quality of our gifts is grounded in the heart with which we give.  God does not need our things.  He wants our hearts. Being able to give freely all that we have demonstrates our faith in Him and our love for Him.  The only thing that could have compelled the widow to give as she did was a pure love of the Lord. 

Annie made another important observation.  When the widow gave her all, she rose above mediocrity. She was not living where it was safe; where “all the bases were covered”.  She was living in a place where her dependence on God was everything.  Annie challenged us to do the same. God wants so much more for us.  He knows the blessings that come when we are able to live a life dependent upon Him and not on our own resources.  God will do His part but we have to choose to live by faith in Him.

One last point: the only one who noticed the widow was Jesus. He saw her heart.  His eyes were upon her.  No one may know the ways in which we give our all. We may compare what we can give to the others around us and feel insignificant. Rest assured, Jesus sees and Jesus knows.

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”  1 Cor. 10:31

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