It Came From Where?
My response to God has been different at various times in my life. Since I became a follower of Christ, I have ridden the spiritual roller coaster. I have had my climbing up the hill, it’s exciting, can’t wait to see what God is going to do, you can have all of me times. During those, I gave. Just gave to God with no thought of me or anything else. I just wanted to give God every part of me for His use. I have also had my plunging toward certain destruction, I am scared (read terrified beyond words), this isn’t fun, I have to be safe, I will measure very carefully what you have of me times. During those, I gave – sort of. What often happened was that God got my leftovers – time, treasure, and talent. I have ridden that roller coaster up and down and up and down (nausea setting in) and as time has gone on, I think I understand why. Here is what I believe God has shown me:
In Mark 12:41-44, Jesus was hanging out in the temple courts near where people gave their offerings into the temple treasury. He was people-watching (my wife’s favorite Olympic event). He was watching people come to give their offerings to God, in this case money. My understanding was that in that time it was not uncommon to ooh and ahh over what people were giving. It was sort of a public spectacle. I picture the rich dude coming in with his wheelbarrow full of money and waving to the cheering crowd as he very noisily dumped every last coin into the treasury. What a guy! He signs a few autographs, hands out a few dollar bills to the groupies (it’s my story, shhh!) and goes on his way the conquering hero. It was not uncommon to have people hanging out just to see who was going to show with how much.
Enter Jesus as the Bible describes this scene, “Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.” I wonder if anybody else even knew she was there. Her clothes wouldn’t even cause you to notice her. They were old, worn, and obviously belonged to poor person. She didn’t come with a wheelbarrow, so the show really wasn’t going to be very good, I wonder who else is coming today? But Jesus in His infinite wisdom saw what the crowds missed, “Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, ‘I tell you the truth, 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.”
Jesus, surely you are mistaken! If she gave all she had to live on, that’s irresponsible! Now someone else is going to have to take care of her, she might become another burden to the system. Jesus, why didn’t you correct her and tell her to keep her money!
Don’t miss this, what Jesus knew and commented on is exactly what you and I need. Jesus knew that her purse was directly connected to her heart. In Matthew 6:21 Jesus says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” She may have been old and poor and a widow and without much in the standards of the world, but she knew that her hope was in God, not in money! Her purse was directly connected to her heart!
How does this relate to the spiritual roller coaster? If we can get ourselves to the point where we can stop being so smart, practical, and wise; we can ride the high road in our spiritual lives. Ask yourself these questions:
Where does my money given to God come from – leftovers or the best of what I have?
Where does my time given to God come from – leftovers or the best of what I have?
Where does my talent given to God come from – leftovers or the best of what I have?
God never wanted a percentage of us, He has always wanted all of us! Today, I am reminded that God is trustworthy and it is a great investment to give all of who I am to Him, how about you? How about we all just give to God the percentage of our lives that we want Jesus to forgive!
