Jesus sees beyond
What happened in Mark chapter 12, verses 41 and 42 was not a parable. It took place 2000 years ago, and it still happens today. Different people give varying amounts of money to the church. Some follow tithing, others give the bare minimum, and even a few give away most of their income.
Jesus sits down near us and watches what we do. He sees our intention even if we are unaware of them ourselves. He knows our capabilities and willingness to sacrifice.
The matter isn’t about whether we give to the church specifically but to God and others.
Many of us don’t consider ourselves rich
Rich people are those who don’t have to worry about spending. They live in mansions, have all the latest technology, travel every weekend, and dine out at fancy restaurants without reserve. And the list goes on.
As young people, we are still paying off student loans and rent. We dream of whether we will ever get into the housing market. How do we balance saving with spending?
What did she give away?
The poor widow had two copper coins to put in the treasury. Jesus described this as “all she had to live on” (Mark chapter 14, verse 44). I wonder if she hesitated at all. Did she want to save some to buy a loaf of bread for dinner that night?
In the end, regardless of whether she had those thoughts or not, she still gave everything she had to God.
Similarly, Mary came to Jesus with an alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. A perfume worth more than a year’s salary, she poured on his head. Did she consider how she could otherwise spend this money or how people would view her?
The challenge is if I am willing to give away like these two women? Even without an immediate utility?
My two copper coins
Sometimes our giving is like donating to a second-hand shop. We choose to give away clothes that no longer fit, old appliances, and things we no longer need. Probably because we have bought something newer and better.
Maybe the reality isn’t that we have nothing good to give away, but it is because we are keeping the good for ourselves.
What if the ‘two copper coins’ equate to everything we have – money, possessions, time, health, and so on. We are obliged to ask ourselves, “what is one thing in my life I would not want to give away?”
Or from another perspective, “what is one thing I am withholding from God?”
Give everything away
God commands us to love him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We often ponder what we can give to God. The answer is to give him everything.
As we give him everything, the focus is no longer on us and what we have or don’t have. Everything revolves around God.
Like the two women, we don’t need to worry about what our future will be like. God honours our giving and sacrifices. Even if others question or mock our decisions, we undoubtedly know we are simply obeying God.
Secondly, God commands us to love others as ourselves. This love flows naturally from having already given God everything. As much as we like to keep the best for ourselves, we need to give away our best for others. Not the ‘hand-me-downs’, but our newest and favourites.
God did not give us everything, only for us to hold onto them.
Giving away my two copper coins is an art of surrender to God – trusting that even if we have nothing left, he will provide.
Giving is also a lesson on sacrifice in remembrance of Jesus, a portrait for the world to discover.