She Gave Her All

Mark 12:38-44                                                                   November 9, 2003

   As he taught, Jesus said, "Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, [39] and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. [40] They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely."

   [41] 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. [42] But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.

   [43] Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. [44] They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on."

CCI: Worship is giving because we are thankful, worship is doing the impossible because Jesus is leading.

         There are two worshipers in this text. One enjoys the show that is a part of the worship. He likes to be seen, he is respected in the community and often in the public eye. The community may even be comforted when they see him in worship. They find hope in the fact that it appears this person prays to God for guidance. This first person is also generous. He may contribute a new wing on a hospital or endow a chair at the University. When these large gifts are given, a press conference is held and headlines run to thank him. When this first person arrives for worship, there is a seat reserved for him wherever he wants it. Sometimes he is even given the chance to speak, certainly the Lord would speak through him, he is obviously very blessed. He is glad to be a force for good in the community. When powerful people enter worship, we are comforted.

         The second worshiper is quiet. In fact, she is a little embarrassed. Her hands are covered with worn gloves, her oversized coat was found outside the Salvation army. Most of her possessions are in a bag she carries with her. She slips into a pew about a quarter of the way down the aisle on the far left. She is a Vietnamese Refugee, the year is 1981 and she is worshiping at the First Chinese Baptist Church of Fresno, CA. This particular Sunday the Ministers and Missionaries Thank You offering is being received. Not knowing the full intent of the offering, but understanding the words “Thank You,” printed on the envelope, she slips off her wristwatch, her only possession of value, and places it in the envelope. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor woman 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 that was valuable to her."

         Two worshipers that Jesus noticed. Two examples that he set before us. Most of the time we are asked to identify with one or the other. When we bring our gifts, do we bring them to be noticed? Do we come to worship so people will see us? Do we dress so others will admire us? Do you identify with the wealthy merchant in the story?

         Or do we identify with the widow who gave her last 2 pennies? As far as we know, she gave because she wanted to give. It was her last. As far as we know, it was not given because she expected something back from God. As far as we know, it was not given because it was demanded. It seems she gave because she wanted to give. Do you identify with the poor widow?

         Maybe, you are like me and don’t identify with either of them. Maybe the people we identify with most are Jesus disciples. They are the ones who heard the teaching. They are the ones who were watching it all unfold before their eyes. And they are the ones with whom I identify.

         What would it have been like to have sat with Jesus that day and watched the crowd bring their offerings. In New York City in the early 60's there was young man named Nicky. Nicky was a leader in the Puerto Rican gang, the Mau-mau’s. One day he and several gang members went to an evangelistic service lead by David Wilkerson, a rural preacher from Pennsylvania. David asked Nicky and his friends to collect the offering. As they watched people give, they at times would stop them and insist they give more! I wonder if the disciples thought that at times as the crowd come to give. May they have at times wanted to stop the process and ask people to give more? Perhaps they wanted to stop the process and tell the poor widow she should not give at all.

         I think I am like the crowd. I am not a poor widow, nor am I a rich philanthropist, I’m somewhere in the middle, sometimes I give with flourish, sometimes I have given very sacrificially, but usually I give my gift then sit on the sidelines and wonder what everyone else is doing.

         As human beings, we are naturally drawn to the person who can give generously. We like to bathe in the shadow of powerful people and the evidence of power in our world, is money. We look up to these people, and though we know we should not, we envy them.

         Jesus contrasted money with God. In Luke 16:13, he said, "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." Several years ago, I heard a woman on NPR speaking of her role as a fund raiser. She talked about the fact that money is regarded as sacred, it is a god in our lives. Then said something very important, she said, “the only way to break the power of money in your life is to flaunt its power over you. The power of money is in accumulation, it’s purpose is purchase, when we give it away, with no strings attached, we deny its power in our lives.”

         The rich men in Jesus teaching, were not giving gifts at the temple, they were buying favor. Perhaps they thought they were buying God’s favor, but really it was prestige, and admiration, and influence, and power that they were buying. They liked having the crowd watch them. In fact, Barclay, in his commentary on Mark, tells us that some of these men hired trumpet players to sound the alarm so people would come to see them give their gifts. It was like those who like to call press conferences when they make large gifts. Bill and Melinda Gates are now known not only as business people but also as philanthropists. Yes, they want to do good, but their giving is also buying them admiration, influence and prestige in new fields.

         When we use our money to purchase anything, we get exactly what we pay for. And if we want recognition, that is what we will get. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.” You see, you get what you pay for.

         However, if instead of paying our tithes as if it is something we owe, if we give, with no thought of return, then the power of the false god money will be broken in our lives. The widow was free to give her last two cents, not because she had to, but because giving was more important than having.

         David Hindman, a student at Metropolitan State College of Denver wrote: “It has been said when we give, we are most like God. However, it is the attitude of the heart that helps make that statement true. There is a very real difference between guilt-inspired giving and God-inspired giving.” I would suggest that guilt-inspired giving is not giving at all. God’s nature is to give. He gives life, he gives love, he gives hope, he gives provision, he gives salvation, he gives shelter, he gives healing, he gives relationships, and I could go on. God gives by nature. And the wonder of it all is God invites us to be part of that nature. We are invited to join God as we give, not as we are inspired by guilt, but as we are inspired by gratitude.

         On many levels the church today is experiencing very difficult times financially. During the next week, you will hear that our congregation is running a $5,000 deficit this year. One month ago, I received a letter from our state office sharing the fact that they are running $55,000 behind last year and almost $200,000 behind the budget. Last week, I received a letter from International Ministries that our mission board is $3,000,000 behind. I do not share these figures with you cause guilt. I don’t share them to make you feel ashamed. I simply am sharing this reality because God has blessed us greatly. He has given us a congregation here who care about one another, he has placed in a region that is excited about being able to enable kingdom growth, He has permitted us to be part of a family that is supporting 153 missionaries all around the world in areas of peace, evangelism, development, justice, education, and church planting.

         When the widow gave all she had, when the Vietnamese Refugee woman gave all she had, when the Pastor from Romania pledged what he did not have, each of them were giving out of gratitude.

         Has God touched you? Has God worked in your life? How have you responded?

Let us pray.