Topic:  Giving

Scriptures:

1As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.[a] 3"I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."

(NIV) Luke 21:1-3

Observation:

Just a brief look up perhaps, but Jesus notices what was happening in the gifts being put into the temple treasury.  He must have been pretty close to see the "two very small copper coins" being given.  And he draws out a Kingdom Principle Truth: "she gave out of her poverty".

The point here is that it really cost the widow alot for doing that, she gave her all.  And even though to the human eyes it may have seemed that the rich was giving a lot, when you look at through God's eyes it was the widow that gave more.  She didn't just give her extras, she gave all that she had.

Application:

Giving of our selves, of our tithes, of our offerings plays a huge part in God's eyes.  It is a measurement of how much of ourselves we are really giving over to God....or keeping for ourselves.  The world has a way of making us think that the more money, the more stuff we have, the more we keep for ourselves, the more joyful  and happy we'll be. But God's ways and his Kingdom way of living is just the opposite.  The more we give away, the more it comes back somehow.  The principle is simply--what we sow, we will reap.  Sow greed, reap greed.  Sow prosperity, reap prosperity.

Prayer:

Heavenly father, I am reminded that you always gave first.  Whether it is giving us the first breath of life or the ransom sacrifice of your Son Jesus Christ. 

You could have annihilated the world like you thought to do in Noah's days, but you didn't.  You could have not offered your son for our sins, but you did.

There are a lot of "could haves" that  were at your disposal, but you didn't.  And I thank you for that and the immeasurable Love that you show us each and every day.  May my life bring Glory to you in Jesus Name....Amen.