Growing in Giving

Introduction

A. Read Mark 12:41-44

B. It is Tuesday of Jesus’ final week, a mere two days before Judas’ betrayal

1. The Pharisees and Herodians had been trying to trip Jesus up by asking Him difficult questions

a. Once they had failed and fell silent then the Sadducees and scribes joined in the attempts

b. They tried to be sneaky with the way they would ask, but Jesus answered them all wisely until they got to a point where they would no longer ask Him questions (Mark 12:13-34).

2. Jesus then turns the tables on the teachers and experts in the Law by posing a question about the Person and Nature of the Christ

a. “How can we call the Christ the Son of David when David calls Him Lord?” (Mark 12:35-37)

b. That demonstrates the understanding of Jesus and His superiority. No one could stump Him with questions but He can stump them.

3. Jesus then gives a warning to all who were listening. “Be careful about scribes who flaunt their status and knowledge for power and greed. There will be greater condemnation for them” (Mark 12:38-40).

I. The Widow’s Generosity (Mark 12:41-44)

A. After dealing with scrutiny, answering questions, and teaching the crowds, Jesus finally gets to sit down (v. 41-42)

1. He sits opposite of the treasury (people putting money in the safes or chests of the temple treasury) and He watches the crowds for awhile

a. Many bring gifts for the Lord: the rich and powerful, the poor and destitute, and everyone in between

b. Jesus was not just observing the fact that people were giving, but how (in what manner) they were giving.

2. He witnessed many wealthy people put in large amounts. Then comes a lowly widow

a. Widows had some of the hardest lives: they could not work, if they did not have children then they were left to fend for themselves, they were overlooked and often treated with contempt

b. Despite all of this, she puts in two copper coins (two mites, Greek two lepta, was a Roman copper coin worth about 1/64 of a denarius [those copper coins equaled 1.5% of the daily wage. Let’s say you earned $100 in a day, the amount you would put in the offering is $1.50. But it’s worse for her, those two coins barely equal a penny in today’s money]).

B. Upon seeing this, Jesus calls His 12 disciples over to teach them an important lesson (v. 43-44)

1. He reveals to them that the widow gave more than the rich

a. He didn’t say she did well, He didn’t say she gave a lot, He didn’t say she gave as much as everyone else. No, Jesus said that the widow gave more than all else

b. She gave everything she had to the Lord (all of her livelihood), trusting Him to care for her, while the rich gave from their abundance and didn’t have to worry about where their next meal would come from.

2. Jesus taught the crowds a broad truth and He would give further details to His friends, those who chose to dedicate their lives to following Him

a. The crowds were told to beware the scribes, the rich and powerful, because of their greed and pride

b. Here Jesus shows His disciples the simple reality of what giving to God is really all about. It’s not about how much you give, it’s the attitude with which you give.

3. The rich gave out of their plenty

a. It didn’t make a real dent and they wouldn’t have to give it any more thought than putting it in the plate and moving on. It was almost an afterthought

1. Whereas, the widow had very little to live on and putting the last of her money meant she didn’t know where her next meal would come from. She had to trust God for her daily bread while the rich could trust in their savings account.

2. It seems that the rich gave out of tradition, habit, arrogance, and expectation. But the widow gave out of love, belief, trust, and generosity.

b. Of course, proportionally the widow gave more according to the amount of wealth

1. She also gave more from her heart of faith, because she did not have to give it all, she chose to give it all

2. People would never have noticed such a minute amount, but God always sees what the cheerful giver lays at His feet (clearly, Jesus noticed and we all know about it 2,000 years later).

4. “I see here first a gift of faith; secondly, a gift of sacrifice; thirdly, a gift of spiritual life; finally, a gift of law-fulfilling.” (G. Campbell Morgan, The Gospel According to Mark, p. 267)

a. It was a gift of faith because she was prompted to give by her belief in God and her trust that He will care for her

b. It was a sacrifice because it was all her living, choosing God instead of self

c. It was a gift that demonstrated her spiritual life because she had a heart to give, even at the detriment of her physical circumstances (the chests at the temple would be divided between priests and the poor. She gave even though she was among the poorest)

d. It was a law-fulfilling gift because she fulfilled the greatest law of all, “love the Lord your God with your whole self”.

II. Christian Generosity

A. It’s not about how much you give but the attitude with which you give

1. Giving from faith because we belief in God and trust that He will care for us

2. Give as a sacrifice, choosing God instead of self

3. Give as a result of spiritual life, showing the blessings of God to others

4. Give to fulfill the greatest law, “love the Lord your God with your whole self”.

B. Giving is fundamental for Christians

1. There are many principles and guides in the Bible for Christians: how they are to think and act. The problem is that many of these specific actions are situational and don’t pop up everyday

a. Galatians 6:2 “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” How often are you aware of someone’s struggle and they let you help them carry it?

b. Ephesians 6:1 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” Perhaps you were like me and became a Christian as a kid or you came to Christ after your kids were grown, so, you didn’t have an opportunity to grow in those ways

c. James 1:2 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,” Perhaps you’re in a season of life where you are facing a huge trial or maybe you are in a time of peace. How can you joyfully endure a trial when you’re in peaceful times?

d. Or maybe something simple as taking communion (1 Corinthians 11:26 “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”). That happens for us once a week, not something you practice every day

2. There are many commands and principles to help us grow in faith during everyday situations. But not everything happens daily. So, how can you grow in your faith today? I think one of the simplest ways to grow in our faith is to give

a. Matthew 6:21–27, 33 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?.. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you”

b. 1 Timothy 6:17–19 “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.”

C. The things we do as Christians are meant to be done in faith

1. 2 Corinthians 9:6–7 “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

2. Proverbs 19:17 “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.”

3. Malachi 3:10 “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”

4. Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Conclusion

Maybe that looks like giving 5 extra dollars in your offering each week, maybe it’s bumping giving to a full tithe (10%), perhaps you go and buy groceries for someone in need, maybe it’s forgiving someone’s debt that they owe you, etc.

Make an intentional effort at growing in giving. You will grow in faith and build up treasures in heaven. Let’s walk the journey of generosity together.