Passage Read: Mark 11-12
Meditation Verses: 12:43-44
Thought
This is the difference between the rich and the poor, between those who truly trust in God and those who don't. The rich give out their excess, money they don't need to live on, money that doesn't impact how they live. But the widow, all she has is two small coins. She's used to going without; she considers the work of God as of greater importance than an extra meal or some special food, and she's able and willing to give up whatever she could have had with those coins for the sake of God. The rich don't have to tighten their belts in order to give to God; the poor have already tightened their belts just to survive, and yet those who truly trust that God will not abandon them, that God will provide for them what they truly need, they can tighten their belts even a little more and give to God. That's real devotion and faith.
Application
We are so rich, but we so easily live beyond our means and rack up all kinds of bills and expenses and debts, that our income can no longer cover. And then we think we're poor! The more God blesses us, the more we spend on ourselves. That's the trap of riches and the test of faith. Can I cut back our spending? Can we simplify our lives? Smaller house, cheaper cars, simpler diet: tighten the belt to free up our income to give more to the work of God? That shows where my heart really is. Giving out of my excess is easy. Cutting back on luxuries to give more to God's kingdom is easy. But deliberately lowering my standard of living so I can give more to God's work, that's what God asked of the rich man and he couldn't do it. But the widow who has next to nothing anyway, she's more free and able to give because she truly loves God more than her own life. And God notices her, delights in her, and promises her an inheritance that far outstrips anything a rich man could dream of. I taste comfort now and can't give it up. It would have been better for my spirit and faith if I had never tasted the "sweet life." I can yet choose to simplify and cut back and cut out, and invest more time, money and effort in building God's kingdom. Even the poor believer can give what he has to live on. Like the Macedonians, my delight in God can well up in an overflowing display of generosity, despite extreme poverty. How much more if I'm middle class!