Jesus was sitting in the temple Treasury of His Father's house, observing people giving their offerings. He noted two "groups" doing so: rich men and a widow.
The rich men, perhaps with some pompousness, out of their abundance, gave. I'm just imagining all the jingle and jangle of the coins as they followed one after another down the "trumpet" chute into the donation box below. What a satisfactory sound that would be!
People would really hear that!
You could just see the puffing up of chest, the self-congratulatory brushing off of hands of, "Good-job, man!" as the rich strutted off, preening. Likely they were conscious of all eyes tracking their movements, with observers' stamps of approval following their progress. And knowing, hey, they had plenty spare change left over, on their merry way they go.
The widow's gift, however, hardly made a significant tinkle and tinkle. Off she went with head meekly downcast but heart uplifted to her Heavenly Father, in trust. She had given all she had. She had no spare. That was all she had, she had no more.
Whatever prompted her to do that? Had she been pressured by the religious leaders to give? Possibly, and shame on them if they had! I'd like to think it was from her heart of love and gratitude towards God; and in sincerity and trust, left her last "leptons".
Critical eyes may have remarked, "Huh! Precious lot she gave. So little!"
BUT...
But Jesus saw her act.
He saw it and remarked that she had given more than those rich men had.
I suppose those disciples swiveled their heads swiftly around and gawked, mouths agape, at Jesus. They wanted to see if He was serious. Well, yes He was! The widow's gift had much more value. This was true sacrifice.
To God, He's not interested in the "how much" being given but the "how much" we have left over when the giving's done. After all, He owns the cattle on the thousand hills and has wealth in every land (Psalm 50:10) so personally doesn't 'need' what is given. NO. It's heart check-up time. It's the heart's frame of mind behind the gifts that count and that He looks at.
Have we given for show? Or have we given from the heart of love and gratitude and appreciation for who Jesus is and for all He has done for us? This Jesus our Savior who died on the cross to purchase our salvation. He gave His all.
What 'shape' of gifts do we give Him?
We must examine our hearts. Make the needed changes necessary. God loves a cheerful giver and one who gives from the sincere heart.
An interesting aside here is something I just learned while preparing this lesson (yes, originally for a Bible class of teenagers). In the Temple Court of Women, there were thirteen trumpet-shaped "funnels" that "flushed" into thirteen donation boxes. This area was also termed the "Temple Treasury".
These "trumpets" tickled my fancy and that is why I can picture the sound of the coins-skittering and sliding through the chutes to land in the coffers below. As children, my siblings and I would sometimes get to visit a great-aunt and she had a penny slide (my term).
If we were very well behaved we were allowed to play with it. You'd place the penny at the top and down that penny would somersault down a switchback ladder slide to the bottom which did have a "donation" box ending.
We could retrieve that penny, however, and watch, fascinated, again and again, at the penny travels. It made a certain satisfying, whispery sound as it went, and of course landing on top of other pennies in the 'hold' had it's own dull-sounding tintinabulation.
To Jesus, I believe, the widow's two copper coins jingled the loudest and clearest and sweetest. He was well pleased.
Hers was true sacrifice.
~ERC September 2020~
Based on Luke 21:1-4
*leptons-smallest of Roman coin currency
Sing And Can it be That I Should Gain with I'm not sure which choir but they have a British-sounding accent.
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