So what can we take away from Jesus’ words about the widow’s gift in the Temple? Here are three simple applications from this great story.
1. THE SIZE OF THE GIFT IS NOT EVERYTHING.
Have you ever noticed how a parent can melt over a picture drawn by their 5 year old? Or how a parent will always cherish the humble gifts given by their kids that they have purchased with their own money? Significance cannot be measured by volume. Sometimes the smallest of gifts add the most value. Jesus witnessed the offerings from the rich and the poor alike. But it’s important to understand that Jesus doesn’t count our gifts, He weighs them.
As a quick sidebar, this story is a good reminder that we should not judge the poor prematurely. Appearances can be deceiving.
2. THE POINT OF THE STORY IS NOT GENEROSITY. THE POINT OF THE STORY IS TRUST.
Who really meets your needs? I believe the response Jesus seeks from the reader is not for us to run to the bank and empty our bank accounts. The story calls us to wrestle with the question, “Who am I really trusting for my life?” “Who is the source upon which I place my reliance?” The widow gave her last two cents because she trusted God to supply her needs and to be her resource for living.
3. JESUS STILL WATCHES THE TREASURY
Jesus sees what is in your hand and He sees what is in your heart. The heart and the hand are organically linked. So it’s not a matter of the amount of the offering in your hand. What is in your heart?
Some hearts are filled with fear. What if I get sick? What if I get laid off? What if an appliance breaks or I have a car repair? What if the economy tumbles further? Fear works in our hearts to curb faith and trust.
Other hearts are filled with a sense of entitlement. I recently watched an interview of Ken Robinson where he shared some fascinating statistics concerning the earth’s ability to sustain the population. He said that according to research, we presently have approximately 7 billion people on earth. If everyone on earth lived like those in Rwanda, our world has enough resources to support a population of 15 billion people. But if everyone on earth lived like North Americans, we only have the resources to sustain about 1.5 billion people! I think many of us realize that we are blessed to live in the USA. But there’s a fine line between blessing and entitlement. Like fear, a sense of entitlement can also crowd out trust in God’s provision for our daily bread.
Jesus still watches the treasury. Yes, He sees the gifts you offer. But He’s not just looking at the size of the check. He’s weighing your heart as well. Does He feel the weight of your trust?
