A Whispered Offering

There are no new problems.
There are similar ways of looking at things.
Whether it is the first century or the twenty-first century doesn’t seem to matter.
We think we have advanced so far, but have we?

When the unsinkable Titanic sunk in the cold waters, it was women and children first.
When young men were taught chivalry and manners, it was hold the door for a lady.
Give up your seat was commonplace; stand in the presence of elders was expected.
Walk on the outside of the road was done without thinking.

It was understood that widows are to be cared for, especially if they have no family.
It goes without saying that orphans need protection and provision.
Even if one is not a Christian, these things are inherently known.
God put His law on our hearts; we know what we need to do, even if some deny it.

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 fraction of a penny. Calling His disciples to Him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything, all she had to live on. (Mark 12:41-44)

The disciples must have been astonished that Jesus would have said such a thing.
Everyone knew that the amount of your wealth corresponded to the amount of blessing.
The receptacles in the temple were trumpet shaped.
Rich people, throwing in lots of coins, could demonstrate their wealth by the sound.

Jesus saw this precious widow approach the trumpet shaped receptacle.
She had two small leptas in her hand, worth 1/8 of a penny each.
Her tiny coins would have produced an imperceptible whisper as she made her offering.
No one would have heard the sound of her coins; no one but Jesus.

Jesus wasn’t listening for the sound her money made as it went into the receptacle.
Jesus was listening to her heart.
The disciples must have been astounded when Jesus said that she put in more money.
The widow put more into the treasury than the others who had great wealth?

Jesus knew that with only two coins in her possession she could have rightly kept one.
She could have given one coin as her offering and kept one coin for her to live on.
However, this woman trusted God with her life and knew He would provide for her.
She, in her poverty, offered God all she had.

If truth be told, we still believe there is a correlation between wealth and blessing.
That couldn’t be further from the truth.
It is the state of the heart, not the measurable things that determine God’s favor.
Ostentatious giving may look good to others but may very well be offensive to God.

If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him! (Luke 11:13)

Every good and perfect gift is from God.
God does not look down on wealth.
God detests the elevation of wealth to the place that He alone holds in our life.
God wants the kind of heart that the widow possessed.

Jesus knew the difference.
Jesus knew the people that cared more about what others thought than what God thought.
Jesus knew the people that wanted others to think more highly of them than they should.
Jesus knew the kind of heart that understood what the Kingdom was all about.

The widow’s heart was Kingdom ready.
The widow’s heart was tuned in to the things of God.
The widow’s heart trusted in God to take care of her.
The widow’s heart belonged to God alone.

How vastly different the widow’s heart was from one who should have known better.

Then one of the Twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand Him over.
(Matthew 26:14-16)

Two very different hearts.
What will You give me?
What can I give You?

Jesus prefers the latter.
The heart that belongs to God alone is the heart that enters the Kingdom.
The heart that has no regard for God, except to amass blessings from Him, is far away.
The widow and Judas; two hearts; two very different outcomes.

Which heart are you?
What will You give me?
What can I give You?

Kingdom ready?
Pleasing to God?
Whisper the offering of your whole self to Him today.