Given Everything
The Heart That Gives It All
SCRIPTURE:
Luke 21:3-4 NLT - "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."
OBSERVATION:
Luke chapter 21 begins with the account of the Widow’s Offering—commonly known as the Widow’s Mite. It is believed this may have happened right after Jesus criticized the scribes for devouring widows’ houses (Luke 20:45-47), when this woman came and placed two coins into the offering box.
There is a significant principle in this brief account—God observes how much we give, but He cares much more about the motive of the heart than the size of the gift.
We are not told how much the rich gave, but the poor widow gave two mites.
Luke 21:3-4 NLT - "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."
OBSERVATION:
Luke chapter 21 begins with the account of the Widow’s Offering—commonly known as the Widow’s Mite. It is believed this may have happened right after Jesus criticized the scribes for devouring widows’ houses (Luke 20:45-47), when this woman came and placed two coins into the offering box.
There is a significant principle in this brief account—God observes how much we give, but He cares much more about the motive of the heart than the size of the gift.
We are not told how much the rich gave, but the poor widow gave two mites.
The value of a mite can be determined like this: a denarius is one day’s wage and equals six meahs; one meah equals two pondions; one pondion equals two issarines; one issarine equals eight mites. When you figure it all out, two mites is 1% of a denarius—1% of a day’s wage. – Matthew Poole.
But the woman gave two mites. She could have given just one, which would have been half of what she had, but she chose to give everything.
The rich, it says, gave from their surplus—you might say, from their interest. It was not difficult, but rather a display of how generous their gift was. According to the NLT, they “gave a tiny part” of their surplus.
Many people today admire the super wealthy who give generously. Since they may have billions, even a small donation can seem significant. Yet few have given everything they own. That would truly be remarkable. However, this is not what Jesus is talking about. The real issue is the heart, not the wealth.
The rich, it says, gave from their surplus—you might say, from their interest. It was not difficult, but rather a display of how generous their gift was. According to the NLT, they “gave a tiny part” of their surplus.
Many people today admire the super wealthy who give generously. Since they may have billions, even a small donation can seem significant. Yet few have given everything they own. That would truly be remarkable. However, this is not what Jesus is talking about. The real issue is the heart, not the wealth.
The ancient Greek word lepton literally means ‘a tiny thing,’ and so in Old English it was translated mite, which comes from the word for a ‘crumb’ or ‘very small morsel.’ … She gave two mites, not just one. The widow might have kept one coin for herself, and no one would blame her if she did. Giving one meant giving half of all her money. Instead, she gave with staggering generosity.
Jesus’ principle here shows us that God does not need our money. If God needed our money, then how much we give would be more important than our heart in giving. Instead, it is our privilege to give to Him, and we need to give because it is good for us, not because it is good for God. – David Guzik.
Jesus’ principle here shows us that God does not need our money. If God needed our money, then how much we give would be more important than our heart in giving. Instead, it is our privilege to give to Him, and we need to give because it is good for us, not because it is good for God. – David Guzik.
APPLICATION:
How can we apply this to our lives today? Should we give more—or give everything we have? Not necessarily. God cares more about the heart than the size of the gift. What He desires most isn't our wealth—He doesn’t need it; He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. God isn’t broken financially. What He wants is the most important thing—our heart.
Jesus said:
Luke 12:34 NLT - Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
What do I treasure more than God? That is what He is searching for—that is where our hearts truly belong.
Is God our treasure? Do we pursue Him as we would pursue buried treasure and hidden wealth?
Jesus shared this principle in Luke chapter 7: He who is forgiven much, loves much; but someone who is forgiven little, loves little. The truth is, our sin was not small—it was costly. One sin—my sin, your sin—sent Jesus to the cross.
Jesus left these words with the church in Ephesus:
Revelation 2:2-5 NLT - "I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don't tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting. "But I have this complaint against you. You don't love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don't repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.
Does Jesus have all—or just part—of our heart? Are we willing to give Him everything, like the widow?
Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain—He washed it white as snow.
PRAYER:
Jesus, thank You for giving Your all. May my heart be completely Yours. It is the least I can give for such an incredible gift of salvation. Bring me back to that place of first love—the most important place. May my life reflect Your love, for I have been forgiven much.
How can we apply this to our lives today? Should we give more—or give everything we have? Not necessarily. God cares more about the heart than the size of the gift. What He desires most isn't our wealth—He doesn’t need it; He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. God isn’t broken financially. What He wants is the most important thing—our heart.
Jesus said:
Luke 12:34 NLT - Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
What do I treasure more than God? That is what He is searching for—that is where our hearts truly belong.
Is God our treasure? Do we pursue Him as we would pursue buried treasure and hidden wealth?
Jesus shared this principle in Luke chapter 7: He who is forgiven much, loves much; but someone who is forgiven little, loves little. The truth is, our sin was not small—it was costly. One sin—my sin, your sin—sent Jesus to the cross.
Jesus left these words with the church in Ephesus:
Revelation 2:2-5 NLT - "I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don't tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting. "But I have this complaint against you. You don't love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don't repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.
Does Jesus have all—or just part—of our heart? Are we willing to give Him everything, like the widow?
Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain—He washed it white as snow.
PRAYER:
Jesus, thank You for giving Your all. May my heart be completely Yours. It is the least I can give for such an incredible gift of salvation. Bring me back to that place of first love—the most important place. May my life reflect Your love, for I have been forgiven much.
God values the heart that gives all, not the hand that gives much.
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