Daily Journal: 1 November

The Poor Woman’s Offering

When all we have, emotionally, feels insufficient, we feel a degree of poverty of spirit, or heart. We don’t feel we’ve given enough to our children, been patient with our spouse, given enough attention to our parents, spoken correctly at work, been a voice where it’s been needed, or remembered our friends’ needs or birthdays. And what about ourselves? Stealing back a little time to find ourselves at the end of our week might seem selfish. But we take a deep breath and soldier on.

Mark 12:42-44 (NLV)

A poor woman whose husband had died came by and gave two very small pieces of money. Jesus called His followers to Him.

He said, “For sure, I tell you, this poor woman whose husband has died has given more money than all the others. They all gave of that which was more than they needed for their own living. She is poor and yet she gave all she had, even what she needed for her own living.”

This passage is about tithing, but Jesus was commending her heart. She only had two very small pieces. Not much to others, but more than what she could afford. She gave all she had.

The treasure we scrape out from the bottom of the barrel of our heart when we give and give and give to honour and uplift and do good, pleases the Father, even if we think we come up short. Not from a begrudging heart, but when a heart to overflow.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (DLNT)

Now this I say: the one sowing sparingly will also reap sparingly. And the one sowing for blessings [the purpose of blessing] will also reap for blessings. Each should give just as he has chosen-beforehand [preferred, purposed] in his heart— not out of grief [that is, a heart grieving or pained over the loss of the money] or out of compulsion.

For God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to cause all grace to abound to you in order that in everything, always having all sufficiency, you may be abounding for every good work.

I know this is talking about money but it’s a principle that carries over to the heart, and therefore, can be attributed to the giving of ourselves in other areas.

When someone gives to us in a meaningful way that meets a need, and we know it’s a sacrifice for them, it delights our heart. So it is with our Heavenly Father. He delights to see us giving in this way because it’s beautiful. Most especially when we feel poor in spirit, and just like the poor woman's offering, God is pleased with our sacrifice of heart-felt giving.

Matthew 5:3,5,7-8 (NLT)

“God blesses those who are poor [in spirit] and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs…. God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth…. God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.