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Prepare Your Heart
To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.
Read God’s Word
A Verse for Today
Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.
Mark 12:43-44 (CSB): “Summoning his disciples, he said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. For they all gave out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had—all she had to live on.'”
Reflecting on God’s Word
It is generally thought that the Temple offerings were collected in the Court of Women. Jewish men and women were allowed into that area, where they placed their offerings into a horn that slid into a box for the priests to retrieve.
If giving to the Lord happened that way, it was not a private thing. It was public. And that’s why, in Mark 12:41-44, Jesus could so easily see what each person gave.
Why would Jesus watch to see what each person gave? Because the gift provided a peek into the condition of each person’s heart. Generally speaking, the greater the sacrifice, the greater the love for the Lord. So when Jesus saw a poor widow give only two copper coins (much less than anyone else), He praised her example to His disciples because she sacrificed more than all of them. The amount didn’t matter nearly as much as the sacrifice.
Do you want to test the spiritual temperature of your heart? Then, look at where you spend your money, especially discretionary spending. What percentage of your income goes toward yourself (your needs, your wants, your desires), and what percentage goes toward what can legitimately be considered kingdom work? Would you consider any of the monies you give to the Lord through the ministry of your church as sacrificial? The answer to those questions can go a long way in telling you all you need to know about your spiritual heart’s health.
Spend Time in Prayer
- Ask God to help you accurately assess what you are giving to the Lord and what it says about the condition of your heart.
- Ask God to help you consider whether or not you should change your giving habits and motives so that you are truly seeking first His Kingdom (Matthew 6:33).
Going Deeper
If you want to dig a little deeper into the widow’s offering, consider reading the following GotQuestions article:
“What does Jesus want us to learn from what He said about the widow’s mite?”
Sharing
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Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com)
Matt’s Musings 