by David Jeremiah
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.
Mark 12:43-44
Research has shown that, in America, people in the bottom twenty percent of income brackets give a higher percentage of their income to charity than those who are in the highest twenty percent of income brackets. The wealthier may give larger amounts of money, but the lower earners give a higher percentage. Jesus noticed the difference between amount and percentage one day at the temple—and pointed out which was more commendable.
People were putting offerings in the temple treasury containers. The wealthy were putting in large gifts out of their wealth—that is, gifts that required no sacrifice—when a poor widow came up and deposited two tiny coins: “her whole livelihood.” Jesus commended the poor widow for her generosity and sacrifice, while declining to commend the wealthy in the same way. The wealthy gave more money, but the widow gave more heart.
Let your gifts to God and others reflect an attitude of gratitude for all He has given you.
The essence of Christian ethics is gratitude.
R. C. Sproul