Giving Some Of Much
Or
Sacrificial Giving
Sunday Sept. 18, 2022
Scripture To Consider:
“Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans.”
“So Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had, her whole livelihood.’” Mark 12.41-44
Something To Consider:
The treasury was a name given to an area in the court of the women within the temple which was just inside the court of the Gentiles where Jewish people came to give to the upkeep of the temple. This area housed thirteen chests called trumpets because of their similarity in shape.
It was there that Jesus positioned Himself opposite the thirteen trumpet-like chests in order to witness how the people gave. Notice that He is there to watch how people gave and not what or how much they gave. Most of us if the truth be known become a little uncomfortable with this story even though Jesus does not speak evil of those who gave out of their abundance.
Jesus did speak well of the poor widow who sacrificially gave all she had. Therefore, let us consider our giving whether of some or of our much. The majority of Scripture devoted to giving, is directed at giving to the poor or giving to the financially less fortunate. Psalm 41.1 proclaims, “Blessed is he [or she] who considers the poor; the LORD will deliver him [or her] in time of trouble.”
Solomon instructed all who have ears to hear in Proverbs 19.17; “He [or she] who has pity upon the poor lends to the Lord; and that which he [or she] has given will God repay them again.” God rewards the obedient and merciful giver. But we must keep in mind that there are other ways to be repaid than just financially.
Something Else To Consider:
We are not told what Jesus witnessed in how the people gave in our Scripture to consider. Did they give with reservation? Did they give willingly and cheerfully? Did some give proudly with much fanfare? Did others give reverently? We know many who were rich gave much. But this one poor widow caught the undivided attention of Jesus even though she put into the treasury one of the smallest denominations of coinage.
While many were giving some of their much, she gave sacrificially everything she had, according to Jesus. But the financial giving story does not stop there. For many of us who give, most of us give some of much out of our own abundance more regularly than giving all out of our poverty. But to whom are we giving? To whom or to what cause are we contributing our usually hard earned financial, offerings?
In Deuteronomy chapter 14, Moses instructed a new generation of followers of God of the importance of obedience to God’s Word concerning the biblical principles of tithing or financial giving. Beginning in verse 22, we are taught; “You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain [substance] that the field produces year by year.” That sounds familiar! But there is something else to consider.
In verse 23 of Deuteronomy chapter 14, the biblical truth of the tithe is revealed to be quite different from the organized church of the few past and present centuries. “And you [the tither or following God giver], shall eat before the LORD your God, in the place where He [God] chooses to make His name abide, the tithe of your grain and your new wine and your oil, of the firstborn of your herds and your flocks, that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always.”
I will leave the next six verses of Deuteronomy chapter 14, which further discusses and clearly explains the biblical instructions of tithing for you to read and to pray about. And know this, that this portion of Scripture is never negated or reversed or altered anywhere else in the entirety of the Word of God. Therefore, it is eye opening indeed. Therefore, do not believe everything you hear or are taught coming out of the organized and heavy burdening church institutions.
Something More To Consider:
Therefore, is money the only source of our giving that should be considered after reading today’s Scripture to consider and Deuteronomy chapter 14? How are we giving and how much are we giving to God? How much of our time, talent, abilities, and possessions are we willing to offer to God, who according to the Word of God has given us so much more?
And for many of us, that is the bottom-line issue. Are we willing to give to God whatever it is that stands between us and God? It may not be that God is requiring all of our money, all of our time, all of our abilities, or all of our possessions. It could be that He is requiring our willingness to give our all to Him. And that is something more to consider!
As is revealed in Deuteronomy chapter 14 concerning the tithe, as prescribed by Moses speaking on behalf of God; if we know and understand the true destination of our giving as designed by God, it becomes more helpful in our being more willing to give more sacrificially as did the poor widow in our Scripture to consider!
A Few Final Words:
If we are following the false man-ordained principles of tithing as if paying our dues to an elite social club or to a homeowner’s association in order to remain in good standing with the management, more than not we are giving some of much. If, according to Deuteronomy chapter 14, and the heart of God, if we are giving according to the truth of the Word of God; then our sacrificial giving would most likely become and remain a joy and no longer a man-endorsed, man-created financial burden.
And just maybe, that was God’s intention all along! Therefore, how a person gives and for what reason and for what cause, may be much more important than how much a person gives. For we are being watched by the One who has given His all for us. Therefore, God loves a cheerful giver!
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, speak to our hearts individually as it pertains to our giving to the biblically prescribed work of God. Let us not be deceived by the highly organized and yet mismanagement of so-called religious institutions. Let us give as true Christ-like givers and make us cheerful givers! In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 