Mark 12:41-44
He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
Why is what the woman put in the treasury valued by Jesus more highly than all the other contributions? Is it simply a matter of percentages? You know what I mean: even though the wealthy may give a great sum, it is only a tiny percentage of what they have at their disposal. Whereas this woman, who gives next to nothing, nevertheless gives everything, 100%. So is this about percentages?
If so, then all the talk about tithing in the church is understandable. Apparently inadequate, if you take this passage seriously, but understandable.
Certainly I think one way to read this passage is through the lens of portions and percentages. But I think what stands behind this is the larger issue of trust. Martin Luther said that we all worship a god, the question is whether it’s the living God or an idol posing as a god. Our God, Luther asserted, is whatever thing we look to for our every good. Which raises for me a question: can we take seriously the possibility that how we spend our money reflects our trust and thereby tells us a lot about our God?
Now at this point, you may expect me to urge you to demonstrate your trust in God by giving to the church, preferably by giving more. But what I want to ask instead is simply whether or not we are aware of what we trust? And if we’re not aware – if, that is, we don’t pay attention to what we spend and prioritize and privilege – then we can’t ask whether or not the things in which we have put our trust are meeting our need for meaning, fulfillment, and wholeness.
So when you see this woman, you might give good thought to the issue of amounts and percentages. And you might also think about whether the things in which we have put our trust deserve it. Can we see this woman not only as a reminder to give, but also as an example to trust, believing that, as the Psalmist says, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”
Prayer: Dear God, invite our trust that may experience you earning and deserving it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
David, been looking at this text for a few weeks since it is coming up in a few Sundays.
I am working on encouraging my congregation to join me in a “living stewardship” life. Trying to figure out ( together) what does it mean to give 100% BACK to God.
The hardest issue might be: to give 100% is to open up our ears to the moments God says no to our wants (not needs).
Anyway, still processing the idea.
David, enjoyed spending time with you at the Antiochian Village in Ligonier, PA. As I was reading this text, I was reminded of of a new ecumenical ministry begun in our area the last two weeks. Our ministerium started a Mobile Food Bank in an attempt to reach and bring food to outer lying pockets of the elderly and hungry in our county — folks who don’t have the means or the money to drive to the more centrally located food pantries. Our maiden voyage was last week. The response was incredible — we fed over 784 families (1800 individuals). But what’s more incredible was the response of the people — at one stop, an elderly woman approached our Director and stuck a folded five dollar bill in his hand. She told him – I don’t receive very much each month but this is what it would have cost me to drive to the nearest food pantry. You saved me from having to do that — but I want you to have this so that more people like me might be fed. The widow’s mite indeed. God is good.