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.” Mark 12:41-44
“Our Lord did not comment at all on the many people who contributed large amounts. But Jesus saw a woman come up who was dressed in the typical garb of widows, and who was obviously poor. She had perhaps waited for the crowd to thin out before depositing two small coins there…
If anybody had been keeping a record of the offerings made that day in the Temple, he would probably have thought it was not worth recording this widow’s contribution. We see in fact that this was the most valuable contribution of all!
It would be so pleasing to God that Jesus called together His disciples, who were scattered around the place, so that they might be taught the lesson to be learned from the widow. Those tiny pieces of copper could scarcely be heard falling into the treasury box. Jesus however clearly perceived the love of this woman who said nothing but who was giving God all her savings…
In this passage of the Gospel, we also learn the true value of things. We can turn everything that happens, no matter how inconsequential it may seem, into something very pleasing to God. And because it is pleasing to Him, it is turned into something of great value. Only those things we make pleasing to God have any true and eternal value.”
Francis Fernandez in In Conversation with God: Meditations for Each Day of the Year, volume 3 (London: Scepter, 1990) 524-526.
As we continue to follow Jesus, we discover that little things are not little – “no matter how inconsequential it may seem” – our small gifts given with great love and sacrifice are pleasing to God.
Recently, I was training a Christian worker from a poor country. He asked pointedly, “What difference do my small gifts make?” I explained that Christ looks not at what we give but what we don’t give.
I elaborated that when Jesus celebrated the widow’s gift, He emphasized that she put in everything she had to live on. It was not the size of the gift, but her willingness to sacrifice that He celebrates.
This inspires me to challenge everyone reading this to “turn everything that happens, no matter how inconsequential it may seem, into something very pleasing to God.”
Take note of the small spaces in your schedule. Look at the little things in your life. Consider how giving that extra time or putting those remaining resources to work, could produce much fruit.
And put a smile on the face of Jesus.
Speaking of smiles, I have a smile today too. Today’s a special day for our son and his wife. It’s Sammy and Emily’s fifth wedding anniversary. Wow, how time flies!
We plan to give them our evening and credit card so they can enjoy a special date night. Of course, this returns to use the precious gift of grandma and grandpa time. Not a small thing.