Called to give
by Sue Westhorp
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She, out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on (Mark 12:44b).
Money. It’s an uncomfortable subject, isn’t it? Especially when it comes to the church. I wonder how many pastors sweat over writing a sermon about giving or how many treasurers dread having to report on the financials at the church annual general meeting. Perhaps this text, often referred to as ‘the widow’s mite’, seems to answer – we are called to give all we have, no matter the cost.
How easy it is to judge those beside us in the pews by the colour of the note they placed into the collection bowl. How easy it is to feel pride when we are in the position of being able to contribute financially and know that others are taking note of our generosity.
And perhaps it’s this ‘taking note’ that creates problems for us. When our motivation for giving becomes clouded by appearances or what others will think of us, our focus can shift to ‘quantity’ rather than ‘cost’. We can focus on what we can afford out of ‘our’ money rather than acknowledging that all we have belongs to God. Giving can become about ticking a box, something that we do without feeling the cost.
We know that in this passage, the widow certainly feels the cost – she gives everything she has, all she has to live on. But if we dig a bit deeper to note who the widow is contrasted with, we learn something of what may have led to her state of poverty. ‘They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.’ So says Jesus not about the governing authorities, but about the scribes – those meant to protect and preserve widows! And in the midst of what may have been corrupt treatment from those seen to be doing God’s work, this widow responds to God’s radical generosity with gratitude by giving all she has.
Jesus’ words. They can be uncomfortable to hear, can’t they? Especially when we place ourselves in the shoes of the scribes – do we, as the church, ever contribute to the inequity of some people in society?
And they can be comforting words when we do not have much to give – God sees us and uses whatever we have. In whatever way these words land in your heart today, know that they are only part of the story. God’s generosity to us is the story. We have abundant life only because of Jesus’ death and resurrection. How are you being called to respond to this generous gift?
Thank you, God, for your generosity to me. Give me that same spirit of generosity in response to you and for the sake of others. Amen.
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