“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 in
her poverty put in all she had to live on.” Luke 21:1-4 (NIV)
This poor widow put in the best that she had to offer. The two coins that she put into the temple treasury were worth far more to her than the gifts to the rich. Both were giving, but while the rich gave a percentage from their surplus, the widow gave it all – she actually gave 100%: her coins and herself.
She was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, for she “put
in all she had to live on”.
The gifts of the rich did not amount to a real sacrifice, it
did not hurt. They may have been giving for purely selfish reasons. The widow’s
coins, on the other hand, were of more value since it is the cost to the giver
that counts.
God saw that the widow’s heart was in the right place. He
saw that her intentions were sincere. Her offering, coming from a spirit of
humility, love and selflessness made her sacrifice invaluable.
Are you willing to give all?
To sacrifice all that you have and are to Christ? You must
be prepared to give up everything to God if He asks. Jesus gave up His life for
us because that is what God desired. Jesus prayed, “…yet not My will but Yours”
(Luke 22:42).
Like the poor widow, Christ Jesus gave everything He had to
live on at the cross. He left the glory of heaven, humbled Himself and laid
down His life for a greater cause...
“Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as
something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the
humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared
in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s
death on a cross.” Philippians 2:6-8 (NLT)
Jesus, innocent, died like a criminal for you and for me, paying a hefty price for our sins. Jesus was willing to give all...
Are you willing to give all?
Are you willing to give up your comforts and your pleasures
and put all you have at the Lord’s disposal?
Are you willing to humble yourself in obedience to God?
Are you willing to give all?
Are you willing, like the poor widow, to sacrifice
everything you have, no matter how insignificant your offering may seem?
Beloved, understand that God will give your gift worth. He
will do whatever He desires with it and with you. Remember, your sacrifice is
giving back to God what He has already given to you and God gives without
measure.
Amen †
Shelley Johnson “Are you willing to give all?” © 2013 revisited March 30, 2025
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