She gave all she had

As Jesus was sitting near the Temple offering box, He watched people come to put their money into it. Some rich people put in lots of money.

Then a poor woman came along and put in two small coins that were not worth much.

Jesus called His disciples together and said to them, “Let me tell you this. That poor widow over there has put more into the offering box than all the others. The rich only put in some of their spare cash, but the widow put in all she had—every last bit she had to live on.”

How can a little be more than a lot?

If you were to tell your friends that the few copper coins in your hand were worth more than a fat bundle of banknotes, they would probably look at you, puzzled. Imagine the looks on the disciples’ faces when Jesus told them that the poor woman had put more into the offering box than all the money the rich people had given. It didn’t make sense!

The actual value of the money the rich people had given may have been more than the value of the widow’s coins, but let’s look at it the way Jesus saw it. Pretend that you and a friend decide to give your teacher some chocolates. Your friend gives the teacher three chocolates from a big packet she brought to school. You decide to give the one small chocolate your mom put in your lunchbox. Who gave more? You did, because your friend gave only a little from the big packet she had, while you gave everything you had. “Everything” is more than “a little”!

Jesus doesn’t look at how much you give, but at how much you have left. When you get some pocket money, do you set aside some to give to God?

Verse for today

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 Corinthians 9:7

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