daily java

Daily Java: 

While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins. “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.” (Luke 21:1-4 NLT)

A gift given from the heart, no matter how humble it may be, is far better than an expensive one given by obligation.

Jesus was watching the poker game they called the offering. The watchers sat in a kind of gallery so they could see the holy men giving their money.

One would bring up his money and offer it, “humbly” dropping it in the basket with as much panache as possible. He might give a little genuflection and offer up a prayer, then, with head humbly bowed, go back to his seat. His little entourage would ooh and aah appreciatively.

The next man would come and call that offering and raise it. He would go back to his seat and his entourage would ooh and aah appreciatively.

The third man, the fourth until it was all over, each calling the one’s offering before him and raising it. Then the first man would make the comment that he had not finished, that he had to come back to get the rest and it would begin again.

Each offerer was determined to be the most generous. However, in their generosity, each was giving what amounted to pocket change and they only gave it to be seen.

A widow came up quietly and dropped in two small coins, money that the others wouldn’t even bend over to pick up.

Jesus, as he watched, must have felt disgust. These men were using the offering as a means of gain. They wanted power, prestige, position – and the money they gave was to that end. God was incidental in the matter. And they didn’t give a flip about the poor the offering would go to. It was all show.

But when he saw the woman offering her money, her two small coins, he turned to his disciples and said that she had given more than all the rest, because she gave from her heart and gave all she had.

I would imagine that Jesus didn’t care if his voice was overheard. Those who had worked so hard to be noticed may have heard him. They didn’t feel ashamed, because this was a way of life. They probably felt disdain because obviously Jesus was too stupid to appreciate quality like his betters.

They may also have felt angry that he would dare to question them. Whatever they felt, it probably cast a little pall over their show.

But the point was made. The important men were giving pocket change without caring. The woman had given all she had and probably cared a lot. She gave out of love; they gave out of desire for prestige.

Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 did the same thing. Those in the early church were helping their own who had been hurt by the persecution that came on the Christians. They were giving things to the apostles to be sold to buy food.

And they were probably being thanked and noticed.

Ananias and Sapphira wanted to be noticed. But they didn’t want to part with everything. So they struck what they felt was a good compromise: they only gave part and said they gave all.

God didn’t require them to give a lot. It didn’t matter either way. They were under no obligation.

But what they wanted was to be noticed. So they lied.

And because of it, they died. They were used as a test case by God to show his church that this was not an opportunity for promotion, it was an opportunity for sharing.

It was a harsh lesson, but the result was: Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened (Acts 5:11).

There is nothing wrong with noticing people who do things. But if all you do it for is to be noticed, it is worthless.