“The world looks at the money and its amount; Christ, at the man and his motive.
You see this in the story of the poor widow. Many that were rich cast in much, but it was out of their abundance. There was no real sacrifice in it; their life was as full and comfortable as ever – it cost them nothing. There was no special love or devotion to God in their giving, only part of an easy and traditional religion. The widow cast in a farthing. Out of her want she cast in all that she had, even all her living. She gave all to God without reserve, without holding back anything. She gave all.
How different our standard is from Christ’s. We ask how much a man gives. Christ asks how much he keeps. We look at the gift. Christ asks whether the gift was a sacrifice. The widow kept nothing over – she gave all. And the gift won His heart and approval, for it was in the spirit of His own self-sacrifice, who, being rich, became poor for our own sakes. They, out of their abundance, cast in much; she, out of her want, all that she had. But if our Lord wanted us to do as she did, why did He not leave a clear command? How gladly then would we do it.
Ah! There you have it. You want a command to make you do it. That would just be the spirit of the world in the church looking at what we give, at our giving all. And that is just what Christ does not wish and will not have. He wants the generous love that gives unbidden. He wants every gift to be a gift warm and bright with love, a true free-will offering. If you want the Master’s approval as the poor widow had it, remember one thing: you must put all at His feet, hold all at His disposal. And that, as the spontaneous expression of a love that, like Mary’s, cannot help giving, just because it loves.
All my money-giving – what a test of character! Lord Jesus! Oh give me grace to love you intently that I may know how to give.”
Andrew Murray (1828-1917) in Christ’s Perspective on the Use and Abuse of Money (Minneapolis: Bethany Fellowship, 1978) 11-13.
Since the heart is what Christ cares about let us explore this vital area further in the days to come. Indeed, God give us grace to love you intently that we may know how to give.