While He was in the temple with His disciples, Jesus saw how all the people would make their way over to the alms box. He spoke about how the rich and famous, how the scribes and pharisees, how the many people would make their way over to the alms box and flauntingly put in large amounts of money. They would do this, put in their large amounts of money, making sure that as many people as possible were watching. There was one person, a widow, with only enough finances to barely make it, who came by the alms box and with no fanfare, but rather in a very private way, put in two small coins. Remember Jesus’ comment to His disciples, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on” (Mark 12:43,44).
Jesus puts forth this woman’s example of lifestyle stewardship. She understood that God had given her everything and that He would continue to provide her with all that she needed. She was not afraid to give God her all because she knew that God would take care of her.
God does not want our money, as if we would have enough money to give God. God wants us. God wants our lives, our hearts, our souls, our love (love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, will all your might). If God has us, He has our lifestyle, He has our all.
God wants to give us His many good gifts and blessings. God has more gifts and blessings for us than we can count, or even imagine. God gives, and we are given to. God gives until we overflow. God gives and He stirs in us to respond by living lives that are pleasing to Him and are reflective of His living in and through us, and that is true lifestyle stewardship. Our prayer is that the Lord would keep us from refusing the gifts He has to give. To God be the glory.
31 of 52 © Rev. Ronald A. Bogs
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