Mark 12 - HOW MUCH HAVE I GIVEN?

 NUGGETS…from the WORD of GOD

HOW MUCH HAVE I GIVEN?

“And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:”        —Mark 12:42-43

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Our text for today centers in what is not an unfamiliar incident, but one that I fear we have not allowed to “sink in” as much as it ought. Viewed in its context, it offers a number of interesting and challenging observations.

First, “Jesus…beheld how the people cast money into the treasury.” (v. 41) Point: God is observant of our giving. If we go back to the law, we are confronted with the fact that God ordered His people to contribute a tithe (10%) of their profits to His cause. And I say “profits” rather than “income,” because the tithe was required of their “seed…fruit of the tree(s)…the herd…the flock…the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord [Lev. 27:30-32].” And, the tithe was not to be regarded as a gift to the Lord, because God claimed it as His own: “All the tithe…is the Lord’s: it is holy unto the Lord.” (v. 30) The Old Testament believer was not regarded as having given anything to the Lord until he had given beyond the tithe.

The logic for that is not hard to find. We are reminded in scripture that everything we have is a gift to us from the Lord. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning [James 1:17].” And again, “The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing [Psalm 145:15-16].” This is an echo of God’s reminder to Israel that even when we gain by our labor, it is God who enables it. The temptation is to say, “My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth,” but God says, “…thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is He that giveth thee power to get wealth [See Deut. 8:17,18 and context].” Indeed, it is He who “gives to all life, and breath, and all things [Acts. 17:25].” In the end man is but a trustee of that which God has bestowed upon him, be it little or much.

The second thing to notice in the context of our verse for today is that God’s measure is very different from ours. As the Son of God watched the treasury, “many that were rich cast in much…[out] of their abundance.” (v.41, 44) The poor widow “threw in two mites.” Together her two mites constituted less than a penny. No one but the Son of God would have given more than passing notice to her contribution. There would be no plaque on the wall to commemorate her donation!

But, consider the Savior’s evaluation: “This poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury.” He did not say more than anyone, but more than all. He measured her gift as greater than all the rest put together! Surely “the Lord seeth not as man seeth!” The plaque for the widow is mounted in heaven and recorded in the word of God. 

What is the key? In chapter one of this gospel the calling of certain of the disciples is recorded. In their response, they “left all and followed Him.” They did not make a donation; they gave themselves. That is the essence of discipleship. That same spirit is evident in the gift of the “poor widow.” She gave all she had, at the risk of life itself. It was given in the spirit of a disciple. Earlier in this chapter the Savior cites “the first commandment”: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.” The key word—one of the most devastating in all the bible—is the little word “all.” Jesus says of this widow, “She of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.” 

Two great things are demonstrated in the gift of the widow: love and faith. In her love for God she gave all, and committed her destiny to Him in faith that He would supply all her need. She held back nothing for herself, including life itself. That is the spirit of discipleship, and should characterize every believer in Christ. The uncomfortable thing about this meditation is that for so many of us, it does not. We reserve so much of ourselves and our substance for our own ends and make so little available to Him. Most of us spend more for our “toys” than we freely give to the testimony of Christ. Statistically, according to a recent report, fewer believers even tithe any more. May the Spirit of the Lord probe our hearts to consider these things. 

Meanwhile, remember the “poor widow.” As I heard someone say years ago, the size of our gift is not measured not by how much we gave, but by how much we have left! She, “rich in faith,” gave all.

“What shall I give Thee, Master? Thou hast given all for me! 

Not just a part, or half of my heart, I will give all to Thee!”

—"Pastor" Frasier

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              6/9/12