Our Gifts

What does our giving say about our faith?

Mark 12:41–44 ESV

41 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Again its not a question of “if” we give but “when” we give. There is an expectation of giving.

What do we give?

Would it change your giving if we called out how much you gave?

Much —>

Little—>

The New American Commentary: Mark 5. The Widow’s Gift (12:41–44)

The “two very small copper coins” were two lepta (so the Greek text). The lepton was the smallest coin in circulation in Palestine and was worth 1/64 of a denarius, a day’s wages for a common laborer. It was not in circulation in the western part of the Roman Empire, where Mark apparently wrote. Therefore he explained that two lepta had the same value as a kodrantēs, the Greek transliteration of the Latin quadrans, which was a coin familiar to his readers/hearers. (The statement “which is a quadrans” is obscured by the NIV’s “worth only a fraction of a penny.” A similar obfuscation appears in most translations because most modern readers have no knowledge of ancient coins or their values.)

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to Mark A Widow’s Two Cents’ Worth (12:38–44)

How powerfully ironic is the word “more” in Mark’s description. Everything about this woman has been described in terms of less, particularly in comparison to the scribes and wealthy crowd. And yet, the contrast between her genuine piety and faith and the pretense of the wealthy is beyond compare.

For Jesus, the value of a gift is not the amount given, but the cost to the giver.

How do we give?

—> Out of abundance

W

—> Out of obligation

—> Its the church tax

—> I give because I’ve always done it

—> I give because my parents gave

—> Out of abundance

—> Maybe we don’t feel obligated to give.

—> Maybe we do give but our gift is easy.

—> We can give to make a show and get credit.

—> I will admit you are some humble givers in the sense that you don’t talk about your giving like I’ve seen in other places.

—> We give because its a tax write off

—> Out of hope

The New American Commentary: Mark 5. The Widow’s Gift (12:41–44)

A major element of Jesus’ teaching is that attitude is more important than action. The widow’s total giving demonstrates an attitude of absolute trust in God.

—> her gift costs her something

—> all throughout the Bible we see God providing for people that give of themselves.

—> Just last night Kenna and I read the story of Elija and the Widow…

—> In the New Testament in the Church we see in Acts its believers providing for believers.

—> It never says what happens to the Widow in this story but that doesn’t matter.

What’s the result of our giving?

Sometimes we can see the results of our giving.

—> Backpack program

—> food pantry

—> the lights and A/C are on in this room

Sometimes they aren’t immediately visible

—> Apportionments

—> Run for the Son

This can make it difficult when we live in an immediate gratification culture. Not to be able to see a difference right away, but that didn’t stop the widow.

When Jesus is talking to his disciples he isn’t just talking about money but total discipleship.

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to Mark A Widow’s Two Cents’ Worth (12:38–44)

The widow’s giving “ ‘all she had’ ” is a true fulfillment of the call to discipleship to follow Jesus by losing one’s life (8:35). The final Greek words of the chapter might be paraphrased, “she lay down her whole life.” That is what Jesus will do on Golgotha.

I’m not asking you to empty your wallet or bank account and give it to the church today. That would be irresponsible and not God honoring. I’m asking you to give the portion that is keeping you from full discipleship.

I was talking with someone just the other day about giving. They were saying how giving is down where they are, as is the case in most of the country. That’s not the case here. Giving is up. We are on track to pay 100% of our apportionments this year. That hasn’t happened, as best anyone can remember, in atleast 10 plus years. We had VBS this year without a line item for it in the budget, yet it happened.

None of our ministries suffered because God is moving and people are responding. Will you continue to respond in generosity and in hope to what God is doing here?

This week in the mail you will be receiving pledge cards.

Pray about what God is calling you to give this year?

If you are looking for a jumping off point. Maybe you haven’t ever seriously looked at giving consistently to the church. Start with 10% per pay period. At our house I call our giving tithe +, we start at 10% and give how God leads us.

Spend time talking with God this week. Spend time asking God what your giving needs to look like this next year.

Don’t ask God for a number, I guess you could

Ask him to reveal to you in what financial areas you are