MODERN DAY MITES
“But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins…Calling His disciples to Him, Jesus said, ‘I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put in more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth, but she, out of her poverty, put in everything she had to live on.” Mark 12:42-43
A friend of mine who travels and speaks for our church shared this true story with me. He said, “Recently, I was scheduled to speak at a large congregation in Iowa and about a week before going there, I received a call from the wife of the young family that I had met 15 years ago. She called and said to me, "I see that you are coming to speak at my new church here and I want to talk with you.....I want to pray with you, and need to have someone to "encourage me." She continued, "My husband has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, we are in the midst of a divorce, and the bank has foreclosed on our home, and now I'm moving in with my parents with my 5 children ages 4 to 14! Could you come a little early so we could talk and pray?" Shortly after, I received another call from the well blessed man that I had met years ago. He said, "I understand you’re coming Sunday to my church. I'd sure like to see you. It will be wonderful to talk old times." They both were members of the same church.
That next Sunday I came early. There was this dear lady with her 5 children. We had such a great talk and we had a prayer together! Then when I walked up to the front, there was my gifted friend. He shook my hand like a pump handle and said, "(my name), it's so wonderful that you are here! So happy to see you!" I proceeded to share my presentation to the congregation on missions. Along with it, I was very focused on, and spoke often of, a new missionary family that was in desperate need for support. After the service, my well-to-do friend came up and commented, "This was the greatest mission message I have ever heard in my life! Thank you so much for coming!" Then he left. To this day, I haven't heard from this man since. However, in the back of the church waiting with her 5 children, was a little lady with tears in her eyes. She came up to me and reached into her purse and pulled out an envelope and said, "Will you make sure that the little Missionary family that you talked about in your report gets this gift of love for their support?" I looked at her and I started to cry and said, "No, no, no you keep this gift, because you need it right now and you have nothing to live on! God will raise up others to help this family!" She looked at me and said, "Please, please don't deny me this privilege of supporting this little family!" I began to cry myself and said, “O.K., I'll take this gift.” When I got home and opened the envelope, it contained 3 five dollar bills. It reminded me of the ‘Widow’s Mites.’ This was truly the greatest gift I have ever received! What a blessing it was to the missionary family as well.” It wasn’t the money Jesus was pointing out when He spoke of the widow to His disciples (and us). Rather, it was her spirit of giving. Though some may not have money to give to the Lord or others, we all still have our love, time, and gifts God has given us. By His grace, ‘we ‘get it’ and share of ourselves with God and others the best way we can in that same spirit of giving.
Dear Lord and friend, Jesus, thank you for giving of Yourself for us all for our forgiveness of sins. Teach us to love and give like You, in your precious Name, Amen
