Fully Devoted Generosity
OPENING PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, I desire to be fully devoted to you and generous with all that I have. Amen
“Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” Mark 12:41-44 (NIV)
REFLECT:
In Mark 12 Jesus makes an observation of fully devoted generosity. He sees through the gift into the heart of the giver and reveals the pure heart of the poor widow woman. So many times we are focused more on the gift that we forget the heart of giving.
When we think of generosity, we usually connect it with money. Jesus used the topic of money many times and in the Sermon on the Mount he stated; “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21 Jesus makes it clear where our heart should be and he uses the poor widow to show us what it looks like.
APPLY:
The widow woman gave out of a heart of financial generosity knowing God was her true source and she trusted he would provide for her. Abraham called him JEHOVAH-JIREH: "The Lord Will Provide" (Genesis 22:14) – this name for God was memorialized by Abraham when God provided the ram to be sacrificed in place of Isaac. Knowing that God will provide we can give freely out of a heart of gratitude. You have a choice to make. Will you store your treasures here on earth or will you store you treasures up in heaven by being generous however God leads. Remember, Jesus gave first. Follow his lead and he will show you his provision.
“He paid the debt he did not own, I own the debt I could not pay. I needed someone to wash my sins away, and now I sing a brand new song, "Amazing grace" Jesus paid the debt I could never pay.” - Alton Howard
CLOSING PRAYER:
Heavenly Father; as we choose to give, we pray you will help keep our motives pure; not out of pride or greed, but from a loving heart of generosity. Amen
WORSHIP: