Mark 12:41-44 - The Widow's Sacrificial Contribution

Mark 12:41-44
41 And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums.42 A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. 43 Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”

Message: The Widow's Sacrificial Contribution

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus, after answering the religious leaders questions turns to His followers and the crowd and has His own messages to put forth. He begins with the proclamation that He is more than a man; He is Messiah; He is Lord, Adonai; He is not simply the son of David. He confronts the assumptions of the day of how the Messiah will come. And then he confronts the religious leaders of the day and their motives as leaders and what they often do in that role to set themselves apart. Jesus tells them that their condemnation will be greater than others, their judgement will be greater than others.

Jesus is near the temple and watching people make their financial offering, perhaps their tithe, to God. In Jesus' day, monetary gifts were deposited in an offering box located in the court of the women, where both men and women could gather. Deuteronomy 12:1-7 is the Lord's instruction for the Jews to bring their offerings to the one appointed sanctuary for worship. Thus, contributing monies to this box was in some ways a public act. People could see who was giving money when someone placed money in the box. Coins were the currency at this time and coins dropped in a box made noise so the sounds was a giveaway as to the amount of money contributed. Jesus knows hearts and He knows people. He sat there and observed people. He makes a contrast between the rich and poor. He remarks that giving is somewhat easy for the rich, but for the poor person giving is even a greater sacrifice.

Jesus has spoken recently that the religious leaders devoured widows' houses. They took their possessions. He has harsh words to say about people's wealth. God is tough on those who have given much.

It is interesting that Jesus is taking this moment to talk harshly about those in religion and their positions, their motives and even our own perception of people. I remember growing up in a church that was working on a huge building program. At the time, they thought it would be helpful to hear from families that had prayed about and taken a role in determining what to give to the church. But they brought the wealthy to the front and let them share their testimonies. Even in church we have a tendency to set apart those that give much. It is big news when someone gives a lot of their money to the church.

Jesus here is addressing motives and appearances which is what he spoke about in regards to the religious leaders position: many rich people were putting in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”

In looking at the differences between giving by two classes of people, I see an interested contrast and that is what it means to truly worship God with our wealth. Jesus called attention to the fact that woman, the poor widow, actually put in more than all the contributors because she gave all she owned, all she had to live on. In the last several years as I have engaged in conversations with individuals from Africa, notably those in very poor parts of the world and I hear often of their struggle to meet basic living expenses and then also hear from a pastor in Uganda, living in a farming town called Tororo, I am struck with this idea of true worship. I don't comprehend here at times what it means to give sacrificially because each time I give there is often something left, actually there is a lot left. Giving is simply another expense type. [Note: I volunteer with the ministry - globalmediaoutreach.com]

I also remember when my wife and I were younger, living in a house for the first time, having recently had our first son, child and I lost my job and Pamela wasn't working and we were struggling financially. People in our lives came to our rescue. They gave us funds. They provided us out of their abundance. I will always remember our life insurance man or the person trying to garner our business (Woodmen of America) and then also a couple on staff with Navigators. They both said that they had a little extra and they chose to give their little small abundance to us. To me, I thought that was an act of giving, true giving. While my wife and I have given funds over the years to a number of causes, our giving continues to hover around or maybe at times just slightly exceed a 10% amount of our income. But, I am not sure if it has ever reached a level of sacrifice. Maybe it has at times. Often, I am thinking giving is done with the idea that we are replacing what we would have spent on something else with giving. But, I am not sure we are ever going without something for the sake of our gift. I think this is what Jesus is talking about here.

So one hand I feel we need to move to a realm of giving sacrificially but also, Jesus is talking about giving with the heart. This is how I need to give.

Summary - Jesus is in the process of communicating truths to His followers. He has now spoken of his position as man and Lord. He also talks directly about religious leaders and their responsibilities or rather the way they abuse their power. He also now speaks of giving and specifically giving to the temple/church with the right motives, not based upon what we have, but based upon an attitude and desire to truly give.

Promise: From Tabletalk - R C Sproul wrote, "God is not so much concerned with what we give as how we give." The Lord is looking at our hearts and He esteems those who have hearts that are willing to make sacrifices for His kingdom. 

Prayer: Lord, I have read this. I have drawn some conclusions, but I am still a little at a lost as to what this means to me and how I am to apply these truths to my life. To me, you are looking at motives in these two individuals. So, Lord, help me to figure out my motive and what it might mean to sacrifice.