Mark 12:44 NASB1995 for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”
How much do you trust Jesus?
Do you trust Him with the surplus of His blessings? In the United States we have been so blessed that we often confuse surpluses with necessities. We think that we need things to survive that we really do not need at all. My Grandparents raised 11 kids in a two bedroom house. They added a third bedroom before having the last three of their 14 children. I remember as a child thinking how hard that must have been. However, there are people in the world doing that in a one-room house even today. Please hear me when I say, "I am NOT saying everyone should go back to this style of living." I bring this up only to point out the blessings we have that we often mistake as necessities. If we had to do it, we all could live in one-room homes. God has extremely blessed us and yet we often think that we are struggling. In our text today, we see Jesus explaining that a woman who gave two small copper coins had actually given more in God's eyes than many of the wealthy that had put in large sums. It was not the amount that was given that was important to God as much as the faith she had, that He would provide. She trusted God!
God tells us to tithe. Malachi 3:8 NASB1995 “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.
However, He also says not to do it begrudgingly. 2 Corinthians 9:7 NASB1995 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
She didn't give because she was forced. She gave because she loved and trusted God! The others gave a portion of their blessings because they felt they had to. In the same chapter as our text, a scribe answered Jesus. Then it says Jesus saw he answered intelligently. Listen to the scribe's words. Mark 12:33 NASB1995 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 himself, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
How much do you trust God?
To please Him we need to trust Him with all that we have. That doesn't mean you have to sell it all and give it to the church. What it does mean is to give what is commanded (tithe) lovingly and joyfully. Then pray and be obedient in trust with whatever God tells you to do. It might be He says that is enough, or He might say give more. One thing you in trust can be sure of, when you live by faith in obedience to God, He sees it, and is pleased.
This is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifice.
Mark 12:44 NASB1995 for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”
That is faith and that is trust!
How much do you trust God?
Are you showing your faith with obedience?
Love Bro. Scott