Proper 27 (Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024)

1 Kings 17:8–16 NIV84

8 Then the word of the Lord came to him: 9 “Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food.” 10 So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.” 12 “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.” 13 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord gives rain on the land.’ ” 15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.

2 Corinthians 8:1–9 NIV84

1 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will. 6 So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7 But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

Mark 12:38–44 NIV84

38 As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.” 41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. 43 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. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

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A couple weeks ago we began a series to take to the end of the Church Year. “Live Knowing You Will Live Forever”.

We’ve heard the advice, “Live each day like it’s your last.” However for the Christian, that advice is completely backwards. Because the reality is— thanks to Jesus— we have an unending amount of time. Jesus has given you the gift of eternal life. Our sister Gwen and I had that conversation this past Monday afternoon. “You are going to live forever, Gwen.”

So how should the gift of eternal life shape how we live each day?

In today’s gospel reading Jesus sat where He could conveniently observe the people giving money that was used for the temple, for the benefit of the priests, and for the poor. The “treasury” consisted of several trumpet-shaped receptacles for people’s offerings. Jesus saw many rich people putting in a lot of money, but He singled out for notice one poor widow (Mark 12:42) who tossed in two “very small copper coins” (NIV). By giving both coins all she had she demonstrated an attitude that moved Jesus, who sees into the heart, to say that she had given more than anyone else (Mark 12:43). Although she was in dire poverty, she gave all she had to support her for that day. Others had given from their abundance, not demonstrating care for the poor (Mark 12:44). The widow who was in great need herself, trusted God to provide for her.

In God’s sight, the value of a gift is determined not by its size but by the motivation of the giver.

JESUS SEES HOW MUCH WE GIVE

He sees that much is not always the most.

We are not the most generous givers if we have merely contributed out of our abundance (Mark 12:44).

It won’t do to say that we lack an abundance of money and things. We still are rich if we have more than we need to support our body and life.

The problem in Jesus day was Mark 12:38–40 “Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes, and like respectful greetings in the market places, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, who devour widows’ houses…”

In biblical context, "devouring widows' houses" refers to the exploitation of vulnerable widows by religious leaders. This phrase appears in multiple Gospel accounts, where Jesus criticizes scribes and Pharisees for taking advantage of widows financially, often under the guise of religious devotion. These leaders would use their religious authority to manipulate widows into giving up their property or resources, effectively "devouring" their means of sustenance. This practice is contrasted with the biblical ideal of caring for and protecting widows, who were considered among the most vulnerable members of society. Jesus condemns this behavior, stating that those who engage in it will face severe judgment. The phrase highlights the hypocrisy of religious leaders who outwardly display piety while exploiting those they should be helping.

Has much changed over the years?

The selling of indulgences with the goal of getting a loved one out of purgatory is a classic example. This still goes on today in the form of having a mass for a deceased loved one. Giving out of our abundance requires no sacrifice on our part. Jesus sees how much we give, and that much is not always the most. Large sums may well be given from a cheerful heart and for the right reasons.

On the other hand we may be among those who give much money to the church (Mark 12:41).

The purpose of the treasury where Jesus sat was intended to care for the temporal needs of the priest and to care for the poor.

Giving much is good because it makes possible the expansion of the church’s work, which goes well beyond just paying the bills. Giving much enables the church to share in spreading the gospel in other areas.

For example, giving much could make it possible to pay the tuition of the kids at our school, where families are near the end of their financial rope. Could these families be numbered among the poor that are with us?

The families desire a safe, Christian education where their children will not be exposed to the woke worldview that is being taught in so many public schools today. So they send their kids to school here, and some do so not knowing how they will make the tuition payments.

Giving much to the treasury could make it possible to absorb this expense enabling the poorer children to attend to school here. Remember, half of our student body is unchurch

School Mom and Dad want their children baptized. — Unchurched. Yet, since their kids have been coming to school here the message of the Gospel has made its way into the home. — talk of the entire family to be baptized, Dad, Mom, and three children.

Wouldn’t that be something? An entire household coming to faith in Christ, and sealed by the Holy Spirit that they too would share in the heavenly inheritance. And this would be made possible because this school is here.

Jesus sees how much we give, and

He sees that the most involves sacrifice.

The widow gave voluntarily all that she had.

She had very little- “two mites” (KJV), “two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny” (NIV)-which she needed desperately.

Now she had nothing left with which to buy even a piece of bread. Yet Jesus knew she would be taken care of by God, in whom she trusted.

She had given more than all the rich people put together because she had given her whole living (Mark 12:43-44). We have no right to call our grudging little contributions “widow's mites.” Does what we give represent all that we have?

Jesus moves us to give voluntarily and sacrificially.

By reminding us that He willingly gave His all, His very life, for us.

He left heaven’s glory and became poor for us.

He freely bestowed on us forgiveness — while we are enemies of God — and then He clothed us in His own righteousness.

By renewing our minds through his Word and Spirit so that we give first ourselves and then our money as thank offerings to Him

2 Corinthians 8:2–5 NASB95

2 that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. 3 For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, 4 begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, 5 and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.

2 Corinthians 9:7 (NASB95)

7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

1 Corinthians 16:2 NASB95

2 On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.

By pointing us to His ample provision of all our needs (Mal. 3:10

Malachi 3:10 NASB95

10 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.

2 Corinthians 9:8 RSV

8 And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work.

Philippians 4:19 NASB95

19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Jesus sees how much we give and when it involves sacrifice. We are among the most generous givers when, regardless of the size of our monetary gifts, we contribute sacrificially for the work of Christ’s church.

Jesus is not dependent on our gifts. Yet He has arranged to carry out the work of His church through people like us. That’s why He is interested in how much we give and encourages us to give sacrificially.

Remember the story of Jesus and the loaves and fishes? He took what seemed impossibly small and fed thousands. Just like the little boy who shared his lunch, when we offer our humble gifts to God, He multiplies them in ways we might never imagine. It's a reminder that no contribution is too small and that God can work wonders through our willingness give sacrificially. Let's not underestimate our impact!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.