All She Had To Live On

God’s disguised love.

There are hard to believe stories in the Bible that are critical in helping us think correctly about God’s often disguised love.

One such story is called The Widow’s Mite.

It’s about a first century Jewish widow at the Temple in Jerusalem dropping her last copper coins into the offering jar.

Here’s the story.

Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.

For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Luke 21:1-4 (ESV)

I’m sure it would seem to her in that moment a small act that would not only be quickly forgotten but of no real value to anyone ever — including to herself.

And yet.

What else do you and I know she would not have at the time?

First, like the woman who anointed Jesus’s feet with perfume, her act has become a famous story preached on and taught ever since.

More close to home, people heard what Jesus said and it didn’t fall completely on deaf ears.

Sure, the surrounding rich people might have overlooked it, but others probably did not.

We don’t know the details but we do know from the many other stories about Jesus and how he ministered to people, often through the hands of his disciples, that she was taken in and cared for. That’s my belief at least.

But what should be our takeaway today?

What was the point of this story we would be wise to apply to our own lives?

Doesn’t it speak to our relationship with our own material wealth?

No matter what we have, in the long and short run, it is of no value when it comes to our relationship with God, and more importantly, his relationship with us.

In fact, the illusion of security and significance in this world can be roadblocks to a true liberty and best the best potential lives we can live with God’s help.

The widow gave away what she had because she understood it wasn’t enough to save her then or in her eternal future.

She needed and was asking for God’s favor.

We need to continually do the same.

The Widow’s Mite is a tough lesson but also a familiar theme in Scripture.

Beauty for ashes.

Victory cloaked behind the appearance of defeat.

This is often how we can see God operating even today — usually in the shadows, encouraging us to give him all we have and then to expect, in his timing, one day, an unbelievable return on investment.