“As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” St. Luke 21:1-4 (NIV)
Exhausted from debates with the Sadducees, Jesus relaxed in the Court of the Women near the Temple’s donation boxes. These 13 boxes were shaped like trumpets, so the people referred to them as the Trumpets. While he relaxed there, Jesus watched the donors who passed by and tossed their gifts into the Trumpets. One such donor, from the looks of her, was poverty-stricken and needed financial help more than the Temple. Yet, as she hesitated in prayer, she dropped in two coins, each worth about one-fortieth of a penny.
Jesus was so impressed that he sat up straight and considered her carefully. Her offering totaled about one-fifth of a new penny, yet in his estimation, it was the greatest offering placed in the Trumpets that day. He said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others.” He went on to explain that all the other donors had given because they could afford to give (i.e. they had surplus). She, on the other hand, could not afford to give, but she gave from her abundant, overflowing love for God. She gave with reckless generosity because she could not restrain the desire to give.
In these severe economic times, we can easily identify with this woman in Luke’s narrative. But, can we identify with her love for God? Her economic circumstances did not restrain her from giving as generously as she could.
Dear Father, thank you for your unrestrained generosity to us. Empower us with the same spirit of generosity that this widow possessed. I pray this in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today by Christ’s generous love,