They Gave What They Could – Part I

Neville Turley

Give to others, and God will give to you.  Indeed you will receive a full measure, a generous helping, poured into your hands – all that you can hold.  The measure you use for others is the one God will use for you.  Luke 6:38 (GNB)

A striking story is told in the Gospels of a widow who gave all she could.  You can find it in Mark 12:41-44 and in Luke 21:1-4.

Jesus was at the temple treasury and he saw many rich men dropping in their money.  Then along came a poor widow who dropped in two little coins.

Jesus was moved by her gesture.  He called his disciples together and said to them.  “I tell you that this poor widow put more in the offering box than all the others.  For the others put in what they had to spare of their riches; but she, poor as she is, put in all she had – she gave all she had to live on.” Mark 12: 43-44 (GNB)

Being poor is no excuse for not giving.  In Deuteronomy 16:16-17 all men are instructed to come to worship the Lord three times a year at one place of worship.  “Each man is to bring a gift as he is able, in proportion to the blessings that the Lord your God has given him.”

During these difficult times many of us can truthfully say; I am struggling, I cannot do much.  However that is no excuse for doing nothing at all.  The miracle of the feeding of the five thousand (John 6:1-14) was made possible by one boy in that dense crowd who gave all he had – five barley loaves and two small fish.  He gave all that he had and no one can do more than that …

Prayer: Almighty Father, thank you for the many blessings we receive.  Give us the grace to be generous in our giving - for Jesus sake. Amen