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.”

Devotion based on Mark 12:43,44

A few days before Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross for the sins of the world, he was sitting in the temple courts, watching people put their money into the temple treasury. He was studying their giving habits.

He saw many rich people give lavishly because they had much to offer. But then, a poor widow gave “two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents” (Mark 12:42). She did not have much to give. In fact, without a husband to provide for her, her prospects were bleak.

And that is what made her generosity so startling. The rich gave much, and they still had much left over. But she gave “everything—all she had to live on.” She sacrificed her security to support God’s work at the temple. How could she do that? Only because she knew that even when she didn’t have any money, she still had a Lord who would take care of her.

That’s why Jesus pointed her out to his disciples. Like them, we tend to think that generous giving is all about the size of the gift. The widow, however, demonstrates that startling generosity is all about the attitude of your heart. Trust in God shows itself in sacrificial giving.

So, do you trust God? You have every reason too! With all the sin on your record, your prospects were bleak. But God spared no expense to save you. He paid something worth far more than gold or silver—he sacrificed his Son on the cross to make you his own.

Being a recipient of such startling generosity changes you. Whenever you feel limited by your circumstances or tempted to rationalize superficial giving, remember what God has given you and rejoice to give it back to him.

Prayer: