THE WIDOW’S FAITH
41He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. 43Then 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. 44For 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.” (Mark 12:41-44)
A man came to the Lutheran Church and asked to see the pastor. “Pastor,” he said, “My dog died and I would like a Christian burial for him.”
The Pastor said, “I’m sorry to hear about your dog, but we Lutherans don’t do funerals for dogs. You might try the Baptist church down the street. Baptists will do most anything.”
The man turned sadly and said, “I’m sorry you won’t do my dog’s funeral, but I understand. I’ll try the Baptist church. But would you tell me how much is appropriate to leave for a memorial for the church? I was thinking of giving a $10,000 memorial in honor of my dog.”
“Wait a minutes,” the pastor said. “You didn’t tell me that your dog was Lutheran…”
Money speaks. It always gets attention. It got attention that day long ago in the temple. There were 12 large horn-shaped receptacles to receive offerings in the temple. The people would come by and toss their money in the horns. They didn’t have paper money—Large coins make more noise than small ones; gold and silver have a nicer ring than copper. Many coins sound much better than few coins.
People aren’t dummies. They had figured out that if you want to really impress people, then put in lots of large coins. And people were doing it that day in front of Jesus and his disciples.
Then Jesus heard two faint little clunks. A widow woman had put in two little coins that weren’t worth a lot of money. In today’s currency they might have been worth a dollar or two.
I. She didn’t have much money.
a. She needed it for herself.
b. She could have put in just one coin instead of all she had.
c. She didn’t give to make an impression.
d. She didn’t give to get recognition.
II. This poor woman gave EVERYTHING! Why?
a. Because God was EVERYTHING to her:
i. No husband to provide for her
ii. No job to sustain her
iii. No bank account to provide security
b. ALL she had was God.
c. To show her gratitude to God, she gave it ALL back (and was probably the happiest person in the temple that day).
III. Most of us have all kinds of backups: our bank account, credit cards, equity in our homes, friends, family, retirement accounts, Social Security.
a. Truth is, we convince ourselves quite often that we really don’t even need God!
b. We’ve got so many other resources that God stays out of the picture—until a crises hits.
IV. There are many reasons for giving to God, but the top one is that giving to God keeps things in perspective and helps us observe the first commandment to “have no other gods.”
a. Knowing that most people will never have the kind of faith to GIVE EVERYTHING, God has given believers a simple, do-able plan for giving.
i. Nearly everyone here could do it.
ii. Everyone doing it would grow in faith.
iii. The level of joy would grow.
b. What is this plan of God?
c. It’s called the TITHE.
V. The TITHE is simple: Just take your paycheck and divide it by 10%--that part goes to God.
a. The only way we could ever get 10% out of our spending is if that 10% comes “off the top.”
b. The bible even gives us an invitation whereby you can’t go wrong. Listen to this:
10Bring the full tithe into the storehouse…and thus put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing. (Malachi 3:8-10)
c. God says the tithe brings “overflowing blessing.”
d. Can we believe this?
VI. The TITHE is a trust thing. It gets right to the CENTER OF CHRISTIAN FAITH.
a. Both the widow at Zarapaph and the poor woman at the temple had nothing but God—but God was enough for them.
b. Some churches wisely will not allow a person to become a member unless they tithe exactly because TITHING gets to the center of trusting God.
i. Tithing shows that the member’s hearts are in the right place.
ii. Tithing shows trust in God.
iii. Tithing indicates commitment to the things of God.
iv. Tithing brings blessing (and who doesn’t want blessing within the church?)
c. Other churches require all lay leaders to tithe for the same reasons.
i. How can lay leaders properly lead a church with God off to the side?
ii. All church leaders must be strong in the TRUST DEPARTMENT.
VII. There’s something else TITHING does—it helps us overcome our sinful, self-centered nature.
One member of the church was a very wealthy man who had never been known for his generosity. The church was involved in a big financial program and they resolved to pay this man a visit. When the committee met with him one afternoon, they said that in view of his considerable resources they were sure that he would like to make a substantial contribution to this program.
"I see," he said, "so you have it all figured out have you? In the course of your investigation did you discover that I have a widowed mother who has no other means of support but me?" No, they responded, they did not know that. "Did you know that I have a sister who was left by a drunken husband with five children and no means to provide for them?" No, they said, we did not know that either. "Well, sir, did you know also that I have a brother who was crippled by an automobile accident and can never work another day to support his wife and family?" Embarrassingly, they responded, no sir, we did not know that either. "Well," he thundered triumphantly, "I’ve never given any of them a cent so why should I give anything to you?"
TITHING helps us overcome our self-centered sinful nature, and it also shows the extent of our trust in God alone. But there is something else TITHING accomplishes:
VIII. TITHING teaches us a basic truth and helps us acknowledge that truth in our daily lives: EVERYTHING BELONGS TO GOD.
a. My clothes are not mine
b. My house is not mine
c. Even my body is not mine
d. Everything—EVERYTHING—will have to be returned to the Owner.
Jesus says,
“From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.” Luke 12:48
e. Those who have been loaned much from God will have to give an accounting as to how they used what belonged to God.
f. I will have to give an accounting and so will you.
8Will anyone rob God? Yet you are robbing me! But you say, “How are we robbing you?” In your tithes and offerings! 9You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me—the whole nation of you! (Malachi 3)
IX. Finally, TITHING brings down blessing.
“(P)ut me to the test, says the LORD of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing. (Malachi 3:10)
Can we really trust God? That’s what it all boils down to.
- Can I trust God if I should lose my job?
- Can I trust God when my relationships are in shambles?
- Can I trust God when my health fails me?
- Can I trust God when I breathe my last breath?
CAN GOD BE TRUSTED?
That is the bottom line!
X. Not everyone has the faith to jump in and trust God with a full 10% off the top of this week’s paycheck.
a. The Mission Resource Team is challenging each of us to raise our giving by 1-2% of our income and see what happens.
b. If I were not giving anything now and I made $2000 a month, then I might start with a 1% amount—that would be $20 (a full tithe is $200).
i. By increasing that 1% each year, I could be a tither in 10 years.
ii. I could begin experiencing the blessings of God already and grow in those blessings as the years go by.
Let me conclude with a story that puts it all into perfect perspective:
The cheerful girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them: a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box
"Oh please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please?" Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl’s upturned face.
"A dollar ninety-five. That’s almost $2.00. If you really want them, I’ll think of some extra chores for you, and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday’s only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma."
As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents.
On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill, and at last, she had enough money to buy the necklace.
Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed.
The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.
Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story.
One night when he finished the story, he asked Jenny, "Do you love me?" "Oh yes, Daddy. You know that I love you."
"Then give me your pearls."
"Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess the white horse from my collection. The one with the pink tail. Remember, Daddy? The one you gave me. She’s my favorite."
"That’s okay, Honey. Daddy loves you. Good night." And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.
About a week later, after the story time, Jenny’s daddy asked again,
"Do you love me?"
"Daddy, you know I love you."
"Then give me your pearls."
"Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is so beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper."
"That’s okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you" And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.
A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian-style. As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek. "What is it, Jenny? What’s the matter?" Jenny didn’t say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace.
With a little quiver, she finally said, "Here, Daddy. It’s for you."
With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny’s kind daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime-store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny. He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her genuine treasure
So it is with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in our lives so that He can give us beautiful treasure. Here’s the question: Do I trust God enough to be blessed by giving the tithe? (Unknown source--not original)
Will today be just like any other day or am I willing to try something that would turn my spiritual life around?
