Be Generous

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. (Mark 12:41-42)

There is one particular story about Jesus that is so remarkable, first of all, because it made it into the Gospels, and also because it didn’t involve a miracle. The reason the story is so phenomenal is because of what Jesus saw and what Jesus said.

What Jesus said was so remarkable, because what Jesus saw was so refreshing. He saw the greatest example of generosity anyone has ever witnessed. A generous person is the epitome of what generosity is all about. It really is amazing that this story makes it into the Bible, because this woman that is talked about does something that to the ordinary eye was so small, so unimportant, so inconsequential, that nobody would have given it a second thought except Jesus. In fact, only one person left that day talking about it, but because Jesus did talk about it, we are still talking about it two-thousand years later.

As this story starts in Mark 12, Jesus is studying what people are giving. Today, that would be considered rude. You would be thought of as sticking your nose where it does not belong or something a busybody would do. News Flash: Jesus still watches the offering! He still watches what we give or what we don’t. Jesus was very observant. He was anticipating what people were giving. He knew exactly how much everybody was putting in. He was well aware that rich people were putting in these large sums of money. But He was also aware of what the widow gave.

Nothing you do or give for the kingdom of God will return void. Jesus sees your generosity, and He knows your heart behind your generosity. So let’s be generous as His followers to that we may further the gospel and the kingdom.

Dear Lord, I want to be generous. I want to make an impact for your kingdom. Please grant me opportunities to practice generosity and to give of myself so that I can help others come to know you. In Jesus’ name, amen.