WONDERING GURU
32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
(1 Kings 17: 10-16; Psalm 146; Heb 9: 24-28; Mark 12:
38-44)
Story: A sobbing little girl stood near a small church from which she had been turned away because it ’was too crowded.’ "I can’t go to Sunday School," she sobbed to the preacher as he walked by. The preacher looked on her shabby, unkempt appearance, and guessed the reason - taking her by the hand, took her inside and found a place for her in the Sunday School class. The child was so touched that she went to bed that night thinking of the children who have no place to worship Jesus. About two years later, this child lay dead in one of the poor tenement buildings and the parents called for that preacher, to handle her final arrangements. They told him that just as her poor little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled purse was found which seemed to have been rummaged from some trash dump. Inside was found 57 cents and a note scribbled in childish handwriting which read, "This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday school." For two years she had saved for this offering special offering. When the preacher read that note he was in tears… and he knew instantly what he wanted to do. Carrying this note and the cracked, red pocketbook to the pulpit, he told the story of her unselfish love and devotion. He challenged his church leaders to get busy and raise enough money for the larger building. And they did! AbC's of Giving -Consecration by Jeff Strite
How did Jesus know about this poor woman’s
state?
May be Jesus was able to
deduce some things based upon the lady’s appearance. She was likely dressed like a poor person. Maybe
she was alone, and perhaps looked lonely.
How did Jesus know that the 2 mites she
gave were all that she had?
Jesus was not just any
other man! He was God in the flesh! It
was no big deal for Jesus to have supernatural knowledge about this woman. He
has done this before i.e., John 4, the Samaritan woman. Jesus not only knew
this woman’s circumstances; He knew her heart.
The truth is that the lord still knows things about us that nobody else
knows!
Why was Jesus impressed with her?
Jesus was impressed with
her because of the attitude in which she gave. This passage of Scripture is
used often to talk about “Giving”. But I think it goes way beyond that! Technically,
this woman didn’t have to tithe i.e. How do you tithe off of 2 cents? So why
was the woman there? That is where her attitude comes into play. She believed
in God’s work! This woman truly wanted to give. Even if it didn’t matter to
anyone. We should also be impressed (as Jesus was) at the unassuming way in
which she gave. She didn’t make a big show i.e.,
Contrast “Pharisaical” giving and her giving. She quietly and cheerfully
sacrificed her whole living, and didn’t tell a soul!
This woman apparently had
no one else to help her in life. And think about what those 2 little coins
represented to this widow! Many of us wouldn’t even bend over to pick up a
penny on the ground. Yet, to this woman, those 2 coins were the sum total of
her livelihood! But something incredible
happened when this poor widow gave her all. She then became totally, absolutely
dependent upon God! The truth is, “Everything we have, and everything we are needs
to belong to God. Then He allows us to be stewards over these things.” It’s a
challenge for each one of us to throw ourselves at the feet of God like this
woman did!
Why was Jesus not impressed with the rich
but impressed with the widow?
He
is saying that the wealthy’s Donation was about:
SELF
- PROMOTION -. They wanted everyone to know that they gave.
FAKE
PEOPLE - they wanted to be seen as sacrificing so much -when in reality they
were not even returning back to God what was God’s - they were tipping Him.
HEARTLESS
- their heart was absent from the whole thing.
The
Widow’s offering was about:
SELF
- DENYING - she could have kept one but she didn’t. While they gave out of abundance,
she gave her ALL.
SELF-
SACRIFICE - she gave everything freely. She sacrificed all and trusted God for
the care of her life.
SELF-
SURRENDER. She turned over everything. No fuss, not begrudging.
Conclusion: I
want to assure you today that if you are struggling, as this woman was, that
Jesus knows and understands your plight! Are you going through a financial,
physical, emotional or spiritual crisis? “Jesus knows all about your struggles.
There’s not a friend like Jesus. No not
one!
