And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
- Mark 12:41-44
I've heard this story pretty often, but I have to admit I've always overlooked the significance of the detail that the widow gave two coins. Jesus lets us know that the widow gave all she had to live on. Giving one coin - half of all she had to live on - would have already been an amazing sacrifice. But after giving the one coin, she then went on and gave the second coin as well. Amazing!
The longer I'm a Christian the more I realize that all I have to offer God is really pathetic compared to what He deserves, compared to what He's given me. It's like giving a penny toward a temple worth millions. But this is exactly what this woman did and what Jesus stopped to point out to his disciples so they'd never forget it.
The question that challenged me that I wanted to share with you is: Am I giving God both coins? After all - he more than deserves it, seeing as how He gave everything for me.
"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich."
- 2 Corinthians 8:9
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