How do you define "all"

Introduction

What is “sacrificial giving”? Do we really understand what that means? Is it about the size of the check your write or the number of hours you spend doing ministry both in and outside of the church?

Mark 12:4

Mark 12:41–44 NIV

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. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

Prayer

The message of this seems pretty cut and dried: It’s not about the amount you give, but it is about giving sacrificially out of deep devotion to God.

This message seems pretty cut and dried: It’s not about the amount you give, but it is about giving sacrificially out of deep devotion to God. I think we miss a lot if we leave it there. In some translations is says she gave money that she couldn’t afford to give. That falls so far from the truth because she was a widow…she had no one to support her. She was part of the people poverty stricken with no hope of getting better. A widow, female, no husband, sons, or anybody to care for her. That small offering may have been meaningless to other people…but it was the difference between eating or not eating for the next day or two.

We miss a lot if we choose not to dig a little deeper. Some translations say she gave money that she couldn’t afford to give. Obviously true, but there is so much more. In that culture, if a widow didn’t have sons or a relative to support her, she was on her own. She was part of the people that were poverty stricken with no hope of betterment. This poor widow’s small offering may have been meaningless to other people…but, for her, it was the difference between surviving a few more days

Here’s another example: the woman in that seemingly threw away more than a year’s wages by pouring perfume on Jesus’ head? What’s up with that? A year’s wages. Think about how much that is for you. What would possess you to give all of it to God?

These two women are examples of individuals who gave their “all” - the widow gave a miniscule amount and the woman with the perfume gave an extravagant and expensive gift…they both equally represent their “all”

What does it mean to give one’s all? How do you define “all”?

What would possess Jesus to give His all for the world?

On the other end of the spectrum we have Judas Iscariot. Of all the people imaginable, how could one of Jesus’ inner circle betray Him for 30 pieces of silver? What possessed him to do such a deplorable thing? Judas, at some point, made a choice — greed, pride, riches…over the one person that loved Him more than any other could. Judas, instead of giving his all for Jesus, threw away his all for fleeting “treasure”

Here’s the thing we must grapple with:

Jesus gave all He could possibly give for you; how much are you willing to give to Him? How much will you actually give to Him?

Transitional: Although money often represents a person’s willingness or unwillingness to give...

I’ts not about money - It’s about the heart

Exposition:

The widow in was destitute. She gave two small coins: 1/64th of a day’s wages. That was all she had…not all she had for that day…but ALL she had. No back up plan…no stash of cash somewhere for a rainy day. Poor people often begged at the temple gates

It’s not about the money, it’s about the heart

Proud giving

Illustration: buckets

Proud giving

Jesus sat near the place (near or in the women’s court)where people came to bring their offerings…He watched the people

Right before this…here is what He said

Mark 12:38–40 NIV

As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”

The treasury was in or near the Court of the Women. A colonnade ran around it and, against the wall, were 13 (some say 7) chests or “trumpets” where they were to drop their contributions. They were shaped like trumpets. Nine were for temple taxes, the others for voluntary gifts. (or 6 for temple taxes…).

Mark 12:

Word Studies in the New Testament Chapter 12

The treasury. In the Court of the Women, which covered a space of two hundred feet square. All round it ran a colonnade, and within it, against the wall, were the thirteen chests or “trumpets” for charitable contributions. These chests were narrow at the mouth and wide at the bottom, shaped like trumpets, whence their name. Their specific objects were carefully marked on them. Nine were for the receipt of what was legally due by worshippers, the other four for strictly voluntary gifts

Illustration: buckets

Humble giving

The widow gave miniscule gift in public…for all to see: nothing to brag about…oblivious to what people thought…her heart was devoted to God so she gave it all. She could have kept one coin...

Here story reminds us of the Greatest Commandment

Mark 12:29–31 NIV

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Mark 12:29-31

Challenge: What do you give to God and why do you give it? How do you define “all”?

The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Mark The Widow’s Offering (12:41–44)

In offering all she had to live on, the widow was giving herself to God. She bore God’s image, and in the language of the parable that brought that argument to an end she gave what belonged to God. Her story also reminds us of the discussion of the greatest commandment (12:28–34).

Transitional: Although the possession of valuable items often highlights the value of what a person is willing to give...

It’s not about the “stuff” - It’s about the heart

Exposition: For the woman with the perfume — it wasn’t about the specific value of what she gave, it was what motivated her to give - her love and devotion for the Master

The “stuff” (alabaster jar of perfume) she gave was the best way she knew at the time to worship Jesus— “she did what she could”

“Stuff” as one more way to worship

Greed leads to betrayal

Greed leads to deep sorrow and hopelessness

“Stuff” as one more way to worship

“Stuff” as one more way to worship

In chapter 14, Mark writes that the Passover was only 2 days away — the setting where we hear about the woman who gave a foolish gift.

In chapter 14, Mark writes that the Passover was only 2 days away — this is the setting where we hear about the woman who gave a foolish gift.

Mark 14:3–5 NIV

While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.

Jesus rebuked the people —

Mark 14:1–11 NIV

Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.” While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

Mark 14:6–9 NIV

“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

The woman didn’t knowingly come to anoint Jesus’ body for burial - in her heart, she came to give all she could because of her love and devotion to Him.

it’s not about the stuff…it’s about the heart...

it’s not about the stuff…it’s about the heart...

“Stuff” as a source of pride

It’s not about appearances: It’s about the heart

Matthew 26:14–16 NIV

Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

John 12:4–7 NIV

But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.

John 12:6 NIV

He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

in the

“Stuff” as a source of pride

Mark 14:12–26 NIV

On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.” They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely you don’t mean me?” “It is one of the Twelve,” he replied, “one who dips bread into the bowl with me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

It’s not about appearances: It’s about the heart

It’s not about appearances: It’s about the heart

It’s not about appearances: It’s about the heart

Greed leads to deception

In , Judas complained — “Why didn’t someone sell this perfume and give the money to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.

It’s not about appearances: It’s about the heart

“He (Judas) did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.” ()

Greed leads to deception

Just because you may have good intentions to begin with

Greed on the inside will find a way out

Greed leads to deception

Greed leads to betrayal

Mark 14:6 NIV

“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.

Mark 14:10 NIV

Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them.

Greed leads to deep sorrow and hopelessness

Greed leads to deep sorrow and hopelessness

Greed leads to deep sorrow and hopelessness

Matthew 27:5 NIV

So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

The way to define your “all” has nothing to do with the amount of money or the value of the “stuff”…it’s about the heart — how far are you willing to go?

Challenge

Jesus gave all He could possibly give for you; how much are you willing to give to Him? How much will you actually give to Him?

Jesus’ all and our all are not equal, but it’s a place to start

Even the martyrs that literally give their life for the sake of the Gospel

The martyrs that literally give their life for the sake of the Gospel —we can say with certainty “They gave their all”. These people are our heroes and role models.

Jesus’ all and the all of martyrs are not equal, but were getting closer to the reality of what Jesus gave.

Today as we come to the Lord’s table — I am challenging all of us to search our hearts as deeply as we possibly can. Ask God to shine a light in all the nooks and crannies and secret rooms.

Jesus must have your all —

Mark 14:22–26 NIV

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Mark 14: