In rags but rich!

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"She, out of poverty, put in all that she had, her whole livelihood" (Mk 12:44)

Jesus called His disciples to Him 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" (Mk 12:43,44). She was poor materially but rich spiritually. Others had more finance but she had more faith. God has chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith (Js 2:5).

Giving our substance to God is one of the most practical expressions of worship. "Money makes many things." "Money matters." These are the maxims of mankind regarding money. That's why the Bible warns us that the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Tim 6:10). Deliverance from the love of money is as good as the salvation of soul. It's a "temptation" to overcome, a "snare" to escape, a "foolishness" to avoid, a "harmful lust" to shun, a "destruction" to be dreaded, and a "perdition" to flee from (v9).

God gives us wealth and watches us how we use it. Jesus purposely sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into it (Mk 12:41). The Church records how much we give, but the Lord counts how much is kept back. When what we keep back becomes less and less we go higher and higher in the ladder of worship.

This truth was illustrated by the example of the Macedonian Christians. Their "deep poverty" abounded in the "riches of their liberality" (2 Cor 8:2). Commenting on this, Paul says, "They gave themselves to the Lord" (v5). Pure worship! Sacrificial giving — that is, giving beyond one's ability (v3)—by one member or one section of the Body of Christ invariably affects others causing more and more thanks- giving to God! (9:11,12). No wonder God falls in love with those who give with cheerfulness and not by calculation (9:7).

"Dear Lord, however much I may sweat for You, it is nothing compared to even one drop of blood You have shed for me!"

Take my silver and my gold—
Not a mite would I withhold!
Take myself — and I will be ever
Only, all for Thee.
(Frances R. Havergal, 1836-1879) 

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