Bag o’ pennies from my desk.

Common theme during the season of Lent is generosity.

Generosity is based on an awareness of what God has done for us.

We need to realign our thinking about generosity to match Jesus’ understanding.

Luke 21:1–4 NLT

1 While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. 2 Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins. 3 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. 4 For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.”

When Jesus approves of someone’s actions, we can trust that doing the same is a good idea.

Passage context & background

Treasury boxes shaped like trumpets in the Court of Gentiles.

Different containers for different kinds of offerings.

Made a lot of noise when money was dropped in.

“opportunity” for ostentatious giving. Overt displays of financial piety.

By contrast, the widows two tiny coins (lepta - about 1/100th of a day’s wage)

Lit. meant “peel” or “husk” nearly a throwaway.

wouldn’t have been seen or heard without careful observation.

Many that day had generous offerings while demonstrated a generous life.

A Generous Life:

Recognizes that the posture of our heart is the standard of our giving. Not the amount.

Poor = needy

The widow’s gift was, proportional to her total financial worth, immense.

Her gift, on the divine measuring scale, was huge.

Luke 21:2 NLT

2 Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins.

1 Corinthians 13:3 NLT

3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

Giving that pleases God is giving that costs us something.

Her financial position was pitiable.

Couch cushion giving (like my bag ‘o pennies). Whatever is in our pocket (or left over).

Habitual giving - A steady practice, repeatable, planned, deliberate.

Extravagant giving - Over the top.

Luke 21:3 NLT

3 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them.

2 Samuel 24:24 NLT

24 But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on buying it, for I will not present burnt offerings to the Lord my God that have cost me nothing.” So David paid him fifty pieces of silver for the threshing floor and the oxen.

God does great works with our gifts.

She is lacking in nearly every way but faith. Her faith makes a difference for all time.

Versus the abundance of the surplus given by wealthier people.

Poor widow’s 2 cents has inspired generosity in countless believers over the centuries.

Luke 21:4 NLT

4 For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.”

Regaining the heart of worship in our gift giving.

Willingness & Humility

2 Corinthians 8:3–5 NLT

3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. 4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. 5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.

2 Corinthians 8:11–12 (NLT)

Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have. Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have.

Wrap up:

Money talks. What does yours say?

Opportunity to practice a generous life.

Collection for mission to Ukraine.

Partnering with Team Expansion based on Louisville, KY. A ministry affiliated with the Restoration Church movement.

They are sending a team member/missionary to Ukraine next month. He is right now on the border with Poland, working on the details.

Let’s send enough to support this effort significantly. Can we agree to contribute $5000 to this effort?

Not gonna fit in cardboard piggy banks! There’s an option to give on our giving portal.