The Widow's Two Mites

In Mark 12:41-44, Jesus sat opposite the temple treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. Jesus saw how many who were rich put in much.

Then along came a poor widow.

She came and threw two mites into the temple treasury. The widow's two mites had a modern-day value of 1/4 of one U. S. cent. Her donation paled miserably in comparison to what the rich were giving - at least in terms of monetary value.

Yet as Jesus observed the rich putting in their piles of money, and then the widow humbly offering her two small copper mites, it was she who He commended.

Jesus called His disciples in Mark 12:43-44 (NKJV), and He observed, "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 that she had, her whole livelihood."

The impoverished widow put in all - everything - that she had.

Her whole livelihood.

Her donation left her with nothing.

She exemplified true sacrificial giving and true generosity.

That's why Jesus commended her and not the others.

It's easy to be generous when you already have a lot.

It's hard to be generous when you have nothing.

The widow was down to nothing.

Yet she still gave.

All that she had.

That's where the true test of our generosity and of our trust in God lies: when we still are generous, and when we still give sacrificially, even when we are down to nothing.

Can you do that?

Can you give like a poor widow gave?

It's great to put a lot of money into the temple treasury when you already have a lot to give.

But it's even more generous to put in two small copper mites when you have absolutely nothing else left.