It was a busy news week. The Winter Olympics are in the midpoint, and squeezed out this story. This week the Chronicle of Philanthropy listed their annual list of the top 50 most generous donors of 2013. I read it to see if their was anyone on the list that I knew. Alas, none of my friends made the list. The world is fascinated with what rich people do with their wealth, especially when it serves a higher and more noble cause.
Yet, who really is rich? There were people in Jesus’ day who had it all: fame and fortune. Seemingly, Jesus was able to show how fame and fortune were not the issues that were to be used as character metrics in His Kingdom.
Jesus was not looking for the wealthy. Jesus was not looking for the famous. Jesus was not looking for the best educated. No. He was changing the nature of worship, and re-writing genuine worship.
Jesus saw the little “poor widow” (Mark 12:42) who came to give her gifts. Many before her were giving large sums of money, but the widow came and gave “two small coins.” Hardly anything in comparison to the rest. Yet, she becomes a paradigm of a worshiper in Jesus’ Kingdom! She gave from her heart...from her poverty (Mark 12:44).
In doing so, one sees that no gift, whether money, time, or talent that is truly given to God, with a sincere heart, is insignificant to God. Would we all learn to give like the widow...as we seek the Kingdom of God.
Pastor Tim
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