What can we learn from the widow's offering about sacrificial giving today? Seeing What Mattered to Jesus “and He also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.” Luke 21:2 Why Her Gift Stood Out • Others gave “out of their surplus” (v. 4); she gave “all she had to live on.” • Jesus measured the gift by cost to the giver, not by amount. • Her trust replaced fear; she believed God would provide (cf. Psalm 37:25). Principles of Sacrificial Giving Today • Proportion over portion – God values percentage, not prestige (2 Corinthians 8:12). • Dependence over display – Quiet obedience matters more than public recognition (Matthew 6:3-4). • Faith over finance – Giving becomes worship when it stretches our reliance on the Lord (Hebrews 11:6). • Eternal over earthly – Treasure laid up in heaven endures (Matthew 6:19-21). Heart Attitudes to Cultivate • Gratitude: remembering everything already belongs to God (1 Chronicles 29:14). • Humility: refusing to compare gifts with others (Galatians 6:4). • Joy: “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). Practical Ways to Live This Out 1. Budget first for the Lord, not last. 2. Choose an amount that feels risky yet responsible. 3. Give anonymously when possible to guard motives. 4. Pair generosity with service—time can echo the widow’s coins. 5. Trust God to refill what faith pours out (Malachi 3:10). Further Biblical Echoes • Mark 12:41-44 – parallel account reinforcing the lesson. • 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 – Macedonians “gave beyond their ability.” • Philippians 4:18-19 – God meets needs of givers. • 1 Kings 17:8-16 – widow of Zarephath’s last meal multiplied. The Takeaway God isn’t impressed by the size of the check but by the size of the surrender behind it. When we release what we cannot keep, He releases what we could never earn. |
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