Project 119: Mark 12:28-44

 |  Project 119  |  Dr. Kely Hatley

“Giving Your All”

This one is going to be an “ouch” one for all of us today I think…one of the stories in the reading for today is that of the widow who gives her offering while Jesus observes those who are giving their gifts. You may know the story. Many were coming by the treasury to place their offerings. The Bible says in verses 41-42 that “Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.”

Wow...a fraction of a penny? Think about that for a moment. Our pennies today (while they really do have small monetary value) are just about worthless to us. In fact, often times when I pay cash for something and the total might be something like $2.83, the clerk will often give me change as if the total were $2.80 so he doesn’t have to give pennies back in change. Most convenience store counters have those little “Give a Penny/Take a Penny” containers at their registers because pennies are worth so little now they are discarded by most people.

Yet, Jesus told His disciples that the widow’s very small offering was worth more than the offering of the rich people who gave much. The reason Jesus gave for His assessment was that the rich people gave money that they had and it did not hurt them to give, but the widow gave all that she had to God. Therefore it cost her everything—the Bible says, “all she had to live on.” What depth of devotion is demonstrated by this nameless woman!

How does this story of giving translate to us today? We all understand money and we live in an affluent section of our society. What might be a commodity that would impact us in the way that the widow was impacted by her gift? We often hear that “time” is now the most valuable commodity we have today. I would ask us all to take a discerning look at our lives to determine what activities, hobbies, or work use the most of our time commodity. How does your spiritual life rank in the giving column of your time commodity? Are you investing in it? Are you nurturing it with your time to allow God to help you to grow and mature? Or, are you giving just enough to appear like the rich folk in the story but it really costs you nothing? Consider the cost in your life to follow Jesus as we continue walking this Lenten journey together.

Mark 12:28-44 (ESV):

28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.

35 And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? 36 David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand,     until I put your enemies under your feet.”’

37 David himself calls him Lord. So how is he his son?” And the great throng heard him gladly.

38 And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces 39 and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts,40 who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

41 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 43 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. 44 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.”