The High Value of Small Offerings

 “Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
Mark 12:43–44 (NIV)

Jesus positions Himself opposite where people are giving at the temple, and He’s watching people cast their coins into the containers—both rich and poor alike, giving their gifts to God.

And then she walks in.

She was a widow who, when she lost her husband, she lost her income and essentially she lost everything. And yet living in dire poverty could not diminish the depth of her faith. No matter what has happened to her—the severe loss, the mistreatment, the brutality that comes with aging—she didn’t let any of these realities diminish her hope in God.

She is there that day giving her offering to make a statement: God is the only protector I have left in life.

That day, while Jesus is observing, all she had on her were two small copper coins, the smallest coins in circulation at the time. They amounted to virtually nothing in the eyes of the rich, and to most others for that matter. All she had were these two coins and that’s what she gave, placing them in the offering as a demonstration of her hope in God.

She gave her all and expected that before the day ended God would provide her needs.

What a faith. What a hope. What belief in God.

Jesus explains to His disciples that while many rich people had given that day out of their wealth, this poor widow had given all because she gave out of her need. She effectively laid her life down in front of a sovereign God and made the clear statement, “God, You sustain me. God, You keep me. God, You provide for me. You be my defense. You be my sustainer.”

And Jesus blesses her.

What a high value Jesus puts on small offerings.

What small offering can you lay before the Lord today?