Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.
But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, 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.”
Mark 12:41-44
As we near Easter Sunday, it seems fitting to look at some of the events that happened during the week before Easter. For me, the story of the poor widow in Mark 12 has always been one of the most compelling.
Because in it, we find an example of generosity that we can ALL learn from.
On Tuesday of Passion Week, Jesus and the disciples find themselves in the temple courts when a poor widow drops two small coins into the temple treasury.
The Bible tells us that many rich people had given large amounts that day. But it is the widow who is lifted up by Jesus as an example for us to follow.
She drops in only two small copper coins. Worth only a few cents. Probably less than two dollars in today’s money.
But upon her action, Jesus calls his disciples over. “Truly I tell you,” he says, “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.”
For two thousand years, this woman has been read about and has motivated generosity in God’s people all around the world.
According to Jesus, she gave everything she had. This wasn’t the money she had saved for a second car. This wasn’t the money she would set aside for a vacation. This wasn’t the money earning interest in a bloated retirement account somewhere. This was the money she would use to buy food for the rest of the day. She gave it all.
Here’s what I love about this story. In it, we find both the motivation to give and the opportunity to give.
Her faithfulness in giving to God what she had resulted in praise from Jesus himself. This is what we can receive when we give.
But what we also learn is that the Lord doesn’t measure our giving by the amount. He measures our giving by our heart posture and sacrifice. It doesn’t matter how much you have in the bank. You can be the greatest giver in the room—in the eyes of Jesus—because it’s not about the dollar amount. It’s about the heart.
I don’t know what generosity looks like in your life. But may the story of the poor widow in Mark 12, during Jesus’ final week, motivate all of us to live generous lives.
Because when we give, Jesus notices. He saw the widow that day. And He sees you too.
Prayer
Jesus, thank you for the example of the widow you lifted up that day. Help me follow her example. You are a God who gives, help me do the same. Amen.