Jesus
watches rich and poor present offerings to God. The rich were very
generous. Their incomes and offerings were large. Poor people gave,
too, but their contributions were not noticed. Everyone brought an
offering as was expected.
The
giving was public. They were pouring money into containers called
“trumpets.” The coins made a constant clanging noise as they were
cast into the containers. The clanking was an immediate reward for
the giver; more coins made it louder. The clanking served as both a
celebration of generosity and a reminder of responsibility.
There
was a community expectation of support for God's work. The public
giving created an atmosphere of accountability. The people lined up
in a stewardship parade waiting their turn to give their offering.
A
poor widow drops two of the smallest coins; their faint click is
drowned out by the heavy clanking of more substantial coins made by
the rich. She seems unnoticed but Jesus is so impressed that he says
her offerings are more important that those made by men of wealth and
prestige.
Jesus
was impressed because she denied herself. She had two mites to give
and could have kept one for herself. If she had only one coin then
the decision would have been simple but she had two coins and the
choice was greater. She gave both.
She
surrendered all and trusted God for the care of her life. She knew
that if she was to be assured of God’s care, she had to give all.
Jesus said, “...any of you who does not give up everything he has
cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:33)
Whether
we are rich, poor or somewhere in between, Jesus looks at the size of
our sacrifice more than the size of our gift.
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