Day 11 – Quality vs Quantity

“Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.” Mark 12:41-44

In the Kingdom of God, currency is weighed by the heart. It’s never about how much you give, but the heart you give it with. This poor widow did not come to the treasury and threw in her mites like it was the change in her purse. She entrusted all that she had, her whole livelihood into the hands of God.

This made me think a little: with her last money, she could have bought food… Isn’t this what most of us would do? I remember one month I had R200 in my account (and it was still a long stretch to the end of the month) and someone asked me if she could please borrow R200 to buy food for her children. My first thought was “But this is all I have” as I ran through the Bread-and-milk list in my head. Then I thought how can I claim God is my provider when I don’t allow Him to provide? Did Jesus not send His disciples out with no provisions and God still provided for them? With a grateful heart like the heart of this poor widow, I did the transfer and actually wished I could give more…

The lesson learned was: It is not about quantity, but the quality of the heart you give with and trusting God with provision for your livelihood.

Prayer: Father, thank You for being my provider in all things and I pray that even when we don’t have a lot to give, like this widow, we give it with a heart of trusting You. Use the mites we give to increase like a growing crop where You need. Amen.