THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 21:1-4
“Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all the others.” (Luke 21:3)
It is not the size of the gift, but of the giver’s heart, that counts.
God can do more with this widow’s penny, than with the sizable donations of the rich.
God doesn’t need our money, but He does need – and desires – our hearts.
Better big heart with little gifts, than big gifts with little hearts.
God can do great things through small numbers, if the hearts are behind the gifts.
Our time, talents and treasures will all band together for Jesus and the cause.
The world looks at the size of the gift, God looks at the size of the heart!
God’s mission teams (i.e. churches) work with and through giving hearts.
So much so, that churches often become focused on money and budgets.
We have to find a way to take our focus away from money, and put it on mission.
My sense is that the more we focus on mission, the less money will be a problem.
If our treasure is God’s kingdom and justice, everything else will follow.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)
We could also say the opposite: where your heart is, there your treasure will be also!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, teach me the joy of joyful giving. May my heart be big, no matter what I am giving. Use my gifts of any and every size to build Your kingdom!
Giving.
All what I have is His, to be used in His service.
This is only a possibility after we have given our hearts to Jesus.
It is in Him we have Life. True Life.
1 We give thee but thine own,
whate’er the gift may be;
all that we have is thine alone,
a trust, O Lord, from thee.
2 May we thy bounties thus
as stewards true receive,
and gladly, as thou blessest us,
to thee our first-fruits give.
3 To comfort and to bless,
to find a balm for woe,
to tend the lonely in distress,
is angels’ work below.
4 The captive to release,
to God the lost to bring,
to teach the way of life and peace –
it is a Christ-like thing.
5 And we believe thy Word,
though dim our faith may be;
whate’er for thine we do, O Lord,
we do it unto thee.