September 7th

September 7th -- Luke 21:1-24

Give the passage a read over, please!

I just wanna' look at the widow versus the other people who came and gave gifts in the Temple. All these people were giving large amounts, and the widow gave only 2 small coins of little value. Yet Jesus said she gave more. Why? She gave all that she had, while the others gave only small portions of their wealth. I think sometimes we are a lot like the rich in this passage and often look down on those like the poor woman, too. Sometimes we make our selves feel better because we think we tithed more, or we know we volunteer more at shelters or maybe we donate to a lot of organizations and the other person doesn't. However, for all we know, that other person is doing all they can. We have no right to judge. This is especially true when we are not doing all we can. Imagine there was a woman who worked 12-hour days just to make enough to get by. She attends church, but she never gives additional offerings. She never comes and helps with church events. She doesn't donate to any organizations. You, on the other hand always give money for extra offerings. You've spent huge numbers of hours helping with events. You donate to tons of organizations and charities. Who looks better? You, probably. However, that lady doesn't give additional offerings because she already loses money she needs in order to tithe, so she trusts God will honor her for obeying Him and He will provide. She doesn't help with church events because she spends all her time working in order to make enough to get by. She doesn't donate to charities and organizations because in the rare case she has a few spare dollars, she gives it to a homeless person so they can buy lunch. You give extra offerings because you don't want to look bad. You volunteer and donate because you want people to have a good image of you. Now who looks better? Her. What matters is not the amount of what you give, but the meaning behind it - is it be a lot because you can afford to give whatever you want, really, or is it just a little because that is all you have to give? So, don't become like the rich people in this story. Don't give God just the bare minimum of what you have to. Give Him everything. Do all you do for Him.

Give Him everything and you will not be disappointed. God bless! Shalom!