Sermon Tone Analysis

\\           /Mark  12/

/ /

/           41.

And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how /

/          the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were/

/          rich cast in much./

/           42  And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in/

/          two mites, which make a farthing./

/           43  And he called [unto him] his disciples, and saith unto/

/          them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast/

/          more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:/

/           44  For all [they] did cast in of their abundance; but she/

/          of her want did cast in all that she had, [even] all her/

/          living./

/ /

Two mites, two drops (yet all her house and land),

Falls from a steady heart, though trembling hand;

The other's wanton wealth foams high, and brave,

The other cast away, she only gave.

-The Widow's Mite

 

THE SETTING OF THE WOMAN'S GIFT ‑ She gave out of poverty.

Surrounded by those who gave and having given still had much, this lady came and placed her two small coins.

The gifts of the rich are not noted or remembered here.

This lady had a grand heart for she gave from poverty.

How prone we often are to make false assumptions such as:

 

My little bit will make no difference.

Giving is an act of worship to God therefore the significance is not so much in the amount of the gift.

The gift is only a reflection of our hearts.

It shows how much we are willing to trust God for.

It demonstrates our understanding of the fact that all that we have belongs to God.

It shows how closely we hold or clutch our material possessions.

the Bible tells us that it shows us what our real treasure is.

If I get rich I can do great things for God with my wealth.

Even the poor can do as much.

Can we get it through our heads that God needs our hearts first.

He can do anything with people whose hearts belong to Him,, be they rich or poor.

Money is merely a temporal thing and holds no value with God.

What other misconceptions can you name with regard to giving?

THE SCOPE OF HER GIFT ‑ She gave everything.

Really this is the new testament picture of giving.

It is an act of worship and the old testament idea of a tithe is merely a shadow of what we know today.

Many poo-poo the idea of tithing as Old Testament Law.

Jesus calls people to rise to a higher level of living then the Law could ever produce.

The Law was capable at best of producing a change in our behavior, an outside in approach.

We live in a day however when we find that the Law has been written on our hearts and only an intrinsic approach to spiritual living makes any difference.

All else is dead.

People whose hearts have been filled with grace make far greater givers than any who give out of the legalistic perspective.

The conclusion is then that any present day Christian who loves the lord ought to look to his starting place where the OT Law ended, ... at the tithe.

The tithe is only what is reasonable.

THE SUBSTANCE OF HER GIFT ‑ She gave two small coins.

Worth but a fraction of a penny.

God does not need our money.

He needs our hearts and he wants our love.

There are many people in our church who may never make the top 10 list who, in God's eyes, give much more than any other.

There were many that day who gave more than this lady.

She is honored for her smaller gift and her larger heart.

THE SELFLESSNESS OF HER GIFT ‑ She gave her security all that

she had to live on.

Giving 10% makes absolutely no sense from an economic standpoint.

People who do not give would see it as foolishness.

What would you have said to the old lady as she offered you the two small coins, knowing that she gave away her last bit of earthly wealth.

Would you have encouraged her to put the coins in her purse again or would you have received them?

God will never fail those who put their trust in Him.

ASSORTED ILLUSTRATIONS

 

It is estimated that if the widow's mite had been deposited at the "First National Bank, Jerusalem" to draw four percent interest semi‑annually, the fund today would total $4,800,000,000,000,000,000,000.

If a bank on earth could multiply the widow's mite to such  an astronomical figure, think what treasures this dedicated woman will have in heaven where "moth and rust doth not corrupt."

J.

L. Kraft, head of the Kraft Cheese Corporation, who had given approximately 25 percent of his enormous income to Christian causes for many years, said, " The only investments I ever made which have paid constantly increasing dividends, is the money I have given to the Lord.

Pastors will do their greatest service in leading their men to understand the truth of God concerning the stewardship of time and money."

John D. Rockefeller explained a great principle when he said:  "I never would have been able to tithe the first million dollars I ever made if I had not tithed my first salary, which was $1.50 a week."

There are notable exceptions.

Says Fritz Kreisler, the world's distinguished violinist:  "I never look upon the money I earn as my own.

It is public money.

It is only a fund entrusted to my care for proper disbursement.

I am constantly endeavoring to reduce my needs to the minimum...In all these years of my so‑called success in music, we have not built a home for ourselves.

Between it and us stand all the homeless in the world."

From the beginning of his business career, John Wanamaker, merchant prince of Philadelphia, is said to have dedicated one tenth of his increase to the Lord.

Likewise, William Colgate, the great soap and perfume manufacturer, rose to fame and wealth while consistantly paying a tithe of his earnings into the gospel treasury.

This he recognized as the minimum requirement designated by divine wisdom; and year by year as God prospered his efforts and multiplied his wealth, Mr. Colgate gladly gave far more than a tenth.

Today a great Christian university stands as a monument to his fidelity and generosity.

There are three kinds of givers ‑ the flint, the sponge and the honeycomb.

To get anything out of a flint you must hammer it.

And then you get only chips and sparks.

To get water out of a sponge you must squeeze it, and the more you use pressure, the more you will get.

But the honeycomb just overflows with its own sweetness.

Which kind of giver are you?

"The Lord loves a cheerful giver but He'll even accept it from a grouch!"

Once again it is the end of the year and every Christian organization badgers its constituents for funds to balance the year's budget.

It is hard not to resent such pleas.

But President Pearson of Miami Christian College offers us a sobering reminder to be patient:

 

"The trouble is, you are always asking for money.

You are probably right.

But let me tell you a personal story.

I had a little boy; my firstborn.

He was a delight to our hearts, but he was always costing me something.

He needed clothing, shoes, food, and had special needs that I gladly provided, for he was my son.

Then one day he died.

It was an experience that I hope you will never have.

He does not cost me a dollar now.

Every need is an unfailing sign of life and growth.

Body, mind and soul have their needs and they must be met continually.

A ministry that is constantly in need of funds is alive and growing and going somewhere.

A dead ministry has no need, and will not bother you."