The Widow’s Two Mites – A Lesson on Giving

“Then He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, ‘Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty has put in all the livelihood that she had.’“ Luke 21:1-4

Jesus was in His last earthly days with His disciples prior to His death. He had so much to teach them. Here is an important lesson on giving. And it may be one of the most misunderstood of any of the lessons on stewardship found in the Bible.

First is the principle of giving. It was not new to the disciples nor to devout Jews. Tithing as well as giving were aspects of spiritual service. These had been taught from of old. Putting money into the Temple treasury was an important tenet of the law. One-tenth, or the tithe, had been offered ever since Abraham gave a tenth of his war booty to the priest-king of Jerusalem, Melchizedek, as recorded in Genesis 14:18-20. Jacob offered to give God a tenth of all his possessions if he could get safely back to his country. The priests and Levites were supported through the tithe. Malachi 3:8 urges that all the tithes be brought into the storehouse of God. Not to do so would be robbing God. To willingly bring the tithe would bring God’s blessings on the giver. Jesus said “all this you should have done, but not leave the other undone” —meaning love and justice (Luke 11:42).

Jesus saw the poor widow place two mites in the temple treasury. We often remark about “the widow’s mites,” yet do not stop to think what a true sacrifice she made. Jesus stated that she “put in all she had.” Who of us is willing to put into the Lord’s treasury “all that we have?” I certainly have not known many people in my life willing to go to this length in giving to the causes our church promotes. Rather, we sometimes complain at “too many special causes” over and beyond the tithe. And sometimes, perhaps we even think that in these economic times the tithe is too much to expect. I am reminded of a story my pastor told of a deacon who diligently gave a tithe.

Then one day he got a promotion, a sizeable increase in salary, and inherited some money. He thought he had too much to tithe. The pastor wisely said, “Let’s pray about this.” And as they knelt to pray, the pastor prayed that the deacon’s financial status go back as it was before his promotion and inheritance so that he could tithe again. After the prayer, the deacon was convicted of his greed, repented and gave an offering over and beyond the tithe. I must ask myself in the light of Jesus’ teaching about giving, how do I stand in faithful stewardship? Jesus gave His all for me. What will I give to Him?

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Wednesday, March 24, 2010