Luke 21:2-4
He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
He had been watching. Each one would come up and drop their gift into the collection box. A great deal was made about the sound each coin made as it hit bottom . . . a slight pause passed between each coin.
When a poor widow got her turn, the two coins she dropped in made very little noise -- and then she was gone.
Jesus called His disciples' attention to her -- it took her just a few seconds. If He hadn't pointed her out to them, they would have missed her . . . But He hadn't! He noticed her even before she came up to the box.
He noticed -- not the amount, but the portion she gave -- the intent behind it -- the sacrifice involved. He noticed she gave all she had!
To those behind her in line, she looked like a hindrance to their progress. "If that's all she was going to give . . . why did she bother?"
And yet -- to Jesus, she had given more than the rest of them!
How could this be?
It is a relationship -- one hundred percent is more than any part -- all is the limit. She had given the limit.
There is both encouragement and challenge here. It is not the amount, but the portion – it’s the relationship.
We might see others with more than we have, and see the large amounts they give -- hear each of their coins as it rings . . .
But -- Jesus says we can easily out give them -- if we give in relation to what we have been given.
Be comforted too! If given in the proper attitude and relationship, even the smallest gift -- even from the least of us -- is noticed!
Like the poor widow, if we are doing the right thing -- to the one that matters -- we will stand out from the crowd!
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