And He looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And He saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And He said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had. (Luke 21:1-4)
Jesus observed the giving to the temple and saw many who gave much out of the excess of their abundance and He saw a widow who gave all of her substance for that day. He commended the giving of the widow who trusted God to provide and disdained the giving of the rich men who not only gave openly for all to see and applaud, but gave that which cost them nothing.
In seeing all that many gave, Jesus was not looking to the amounts given, but the attitude of their hearts, the spirit and manner of their giving. The rich men who gave abundantly, but out of their excess, gave that which made them look generous but cost them very little. The widow gave her offering of all that she had for that day and trusted that God would take care of her needs and did so generously and cheerfully despite the cost. She could not have kept up the practice or her poverty would have been a lifestyle which is not God’s intention for His people, but for that day she gave all she had and her heart was right in her giving unto the temple of the Lord. The rich who gave to be seen had their reward and while the temple used their gift, God did not see it as unto Himself but as a giving of what they could spare or would not affect their bottom line.
We are to give abundantly not out of our excess or cast offs we want to get rid of, but of what God has blessed us with. God does not want our leftovers, our unwanted or unneeded handouts which do not cost us anything or we would throw out if we did not give them away. God wants our best and for us to give cheerfully and abundantly because of all that He has given us, regardless of whether it is money, time, gifts, or talents. Our offerings should not be without cost to us nor should it be about the percentages but giving because God has given so much to us. David said he would not give that which cost him nothing, and the widow was applauded, not for the amount or the percentage, but for her attitude and reliance upon God to sustain her in order to give her daily wage. Dare we to give any less, not to be applauded by our peers and fellow congregants, but to for the work of the Lord who owns the cattle on a thousand hills and freely gives unto His people all that we need. He is our provider and He is worthy of all our gifts and praise for His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary for our Salvation and for all His benefits unto those who repent and believe in Him.
God has sent those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
In seeing all that many gave, Jesus was not looking to the amounts given, but the attitude of their hearts, the spirit and manner of their giving. The rich men who gave abundantly, but out of their excess, gave that which made them look generous but cost them very little. The widow gave her offering of all that she had for that day and trusted that God would take care of her needs and did so generously and cheerfully despite the cost. She could not have kept up the practice or her poverty would have been a lifestyle which is not God’s intention for His people, but for that day she gave all she had and her heart was right in her giving unto the temple of the Lord. The rich who gave to be seen had their reward and while the temple used their gift, God did not see it as unto Himself but as a giving of what they could spare or would not affect their bottom line.
We are to give abundantly not out of our excess or cast offs we want to get rid of, but of what God has blessed us with. God does not want our leftovers, our unwanted or unneeded handouts which do not cost us anything or we would throw out if we did not give them away. God wants our best and for us to give cheerfully and abundantly because of all that He has given us, regardless of whether it is money, time, gifts, or talents. Our offerings should not be without cost to us nor should it be about the percentages but giving because God has given so much to us. David said he would not give that which cost him nothing, and the widow was applauded, not for the amount or the percentage, but for her attitude and reliance upon God to sustain her in order to give her daily wage. Dare we to give any less, not to be applauded by our peers and fellow congregants, but to for the work of the Lord who owns the cattle on a thousand hills and freely gives unto His people all that we need. He is our provider and He is worthy of all our gifts and praise for His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary for our Salvation and for all His benefits unto those who repent and believe in Him.
God has sent those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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