Portion vs. Proportion

Introduction

One of my favorite movies is coming to America, Prince Akeem leaves his lavish lifestyle of Zamunda to live as a common man to find the love of his life. There is one scene in particular that sticks out to me, Lisa McDowell, the daughter of Mr. McDowell the home of the Big Mick, not McDonalds, see they have Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun. Our buns have no seeds. As they pass the basket to raise money for Black Awareness Week one of the barbers tries to put a chicken bone in the offering plane, and his fellow comrade says “Donations, Donations”! As the basket passes Prince Akeem he subconsciously places a large donation in the basket, in which Lisa confuses the donation to be given by her then boyfriend, the prince of Soul Glo himself. It reinforces the point that I can look rich but have a poor heart, thank God he judges our intent rather than how society attempts to see us.

In my experience of life, I’ve seen homeless people share and rich people refuse give an extra cent. I know people that would give you the last shirt they had off of their back, and I know people who would not give you a glass of water in the middle of the desert. The bible says that we ought to present ourselves as a living sacrifice. Which can only come about by a constant renewal of our mind.

This written portrait of sacrifice is provided for us within the book of Luke and the book of Mark. Jesus looking up saw the tale of two types of people. The rich and the poor. The great thing about God and the ability to give, it’s not income specific. It’s about the intent, a direct ability to offer a free will gift unto the Lord.

Who are we dealing with, the story shares with us, as well as being acknowledged by Jesus is this poor widow. We do not have a name, we just know that she’s at the Temple. On the other hand we also have a number of rich people who are also participating in the efforts to give in effort to maintain the temple and support the work of God.

Do we give like Jesus is in the room? One of the biggest schemes that the Enemy likes to run is the idea that because I cannot contribute as much as everyone else, they will not miss my contribution. One of the things that I admire about Jesus is the fact he provides acceptance for the common man, grace for the sinner and belonging for the poor. No matter the background, Jesus has a place for you.

The Treasury

“and He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury”

Typically within the temple you had 13 receptacles. Typically there were thirteen trumpet-shaped collection boxes for offerings of various kinds.

Luke describes what Jesus sees in the midst of him instantly using the widow’s example as a moment to teach his disciples.

So we have rich people putting gifts in the treasury, there was intent that was coupled with the ability to give. Typically people traveled to the temple in which their offering was typically in a traveling bag. Similar to when we go on a trip, we are intentional with the things we bring in effort to use them while we are on our trip to the given place.

If we are packing for a vacation on a beach, versus a vacation to Colorado in the middle of the winter what is in our bag is going to look a lot different.

One thing is for certain every person giving came with an intent to give, the difference was there is portioned intent and proportional intent.

The beauty of this story is the fact that the ability to not do as much did not hinder the poor widow from contributing.

God is not worried about the amount as much as he is the amount of heart and intention we put into what we offer unto God.

The proportion, not the portion is important. We have to have a widow’s mite intention to give our all not our least or what is left over.

Proportion - a part, share, or number considered in comparative relation to a whole.

10 dollars might not seem like a lot to a person with one million.

10 dollars to a person with 20 dollars is a life changing decision.

Portion - a part of a whole

We cannot give God left over money, left over time, and left over talent and expect a fine dining blessing.

Typically what he hold back is a bigger indicator of our love to God.

What are we holding back? Maybe a better question is why are we holding back. There are people in here with talents, time and treasure that can benefit from Kingdom, meanwhile fear is holding us back.

For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.

Fear of the unknown

Fear of going without

Fear of walking by faith.

What did the Widow Give?

The bible says she gave 2 mites, historical scholars equate her offering to 1/40th of a penny.

It is safe to say that she was thankful to give what she gave, the bible says she “threw” her two mites in the treasury. Threw means “to cause to move from one location to another through use of forceful motion.

A widow, a surviving spouse, a dead husband, isolated, alone without spousal companionship yet she found it important enough to make a true sacrifice unto God

What does giving from abundance versus giving out of poverty look like?

Let’s look at how God gives to us. None of us are sin free, and we know the wages of sin is death but we woke up this morning.

God gave from a sacrificial perspective. God gave his only begotten son, God gave us a collective group of believers to fellowship with. God gives us an opportunity to be forgiven of ALL Sins.

The creator of this world gave to us in a manner that was and continues to be a blessing! His love is not transactional, his love is not conditional it’s just who God is.

God is not a God of leftovers. Our devotion should only matter to Jesus, I’m not here to impress people, I’m not here to be heralded, I’m here to give my all because that is what God did for me.

She gave out of her need, which was lacking. Poverty in this text means the lack of what is needed or desirable, in contrast to abundance, need, want or deficiency. I’m willing to give out of what I’m lacking because I know God will provide my every need.

“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Giving out of abundance is simple, it’s easy, often times we do not even think about it because we know we have more left over.

Abundance in this text literally means to be in abundance of things. We live in a country in which a corporation like Goodwill has been made a thrift store empire out of the fact that we have too much stuff.

So the question remains are we giving out of abundance or are we giving sacrificially. Mark tells this story in a narrative manner, as the widow threw her two mites in Jesus called the disciples to himself and said the widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury.

Ministry efforts probably weren’t enhanced from her giving, her giving probably wouldn’t fill up a church pantry or provide enough money to fill a budget but the spirit of her efforts if contagious to flow through the entire body of Christ could revitalize the church in a way that could change the world.

Jesus let us know that worship is not a contest, it’s about my heart!

Conversation with Juan, we serve a big God, and it’s time for us to thing big.

Many of us have taken the Abram approach to responding to God, but expect a Abraham like blessing.

God is thinking nations, meanwhile we just want one son.

God is thinking serving mankind, we want Jesus to wash our feet, legs and head too.

If we understand that we serve the creator of the universe, the painter of skies, builder of mountains, giver of rain, architect of astronomy, then we ought to start thinking that if we sacrifice God will provide the increase.

Skittles illustration, lemonheads, whatever candy I can get.