All We Have

“And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury. And He saw a poor widow putting in two small copper coins. And He said, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them; for they all out of their surplus put into the offering; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on.” ~Luke 21:1-4

This verse comforted my soul this morning. We all know that more important than any amount of money or any THING we could give to someone is the giving of ourSELVES. Paul said he would gladly “spend and be spent” for God’s sake. Sometimes I get discouraged when my energy level is low, or my physical body is spent, because I feel like I can’t offer as much as others can. I can’t keep up, I can’t get as much accomplished in a day. When I think of my evangelist and missionary friends I feel so guilty. I would love to keep up with them as I once did. I’d love to be able to live on 3 hours of sleep, to endure thousands more hours of travel, and not have it effect me physically as it does now. I’d love it if my energy wasn’t “spent” so quickly.

How encouraging to be reminded that the widow’s gift was precious to God—in fact, it had MORE value to Him—because although she gave little, she gave “all that she had.” It didn’t matter that her resources were minimal in comparison to what everyone else was able to give. It was her willingness to offer up the very last of her resources for the Kingdom that touched the heart of God.

I was moved and reminded that God doesn’t expect us to measure up to each other—He asks us only to do what He has given us to do with all of our might. If all we have is 10% of what we feel the average person has to offer, that’s ok.“Whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified. . . ” 1 Peter 4:11   We can {and should} only do what He gives us the strength to do. This is difficult for this former Type A personality/energizer bunny to swallow. It’s humbling. But it’s a good place to be.

“He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8