Give Everything

And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.” (Luke 21: 1-4)

It is interesting the contrast expressed here by the Master. While some rich men gave to God out of their abundance, an extremely poor widow gave to God everything she had for her survival at the moment. We are not told how much money the rich gave, but it was certainly much more than what the widow gave. Nevertheless, the Lord regards the offering of the widow as the greatest offering. Why?

The offering of the poor widow was more than a gift to God. It was a declaration of her faith in Him. It was a statement of total dependence in God’s love; a total surrender to His will over her. If the Lord decided not to give her something in return, she would go hungry all day, because it was all she had. She was willing to suffer for God’s sake.  She was willing to wait on the Lord in faith. She was willing to let go of the less vestige of self-sufficiency. She trusted in God completely. How precious it is to the eyes of God our total dependence and trust in Him . So much so, that this woman’s little offering counted to God as the greatest gift He received.

I love the Lord, but I am not a person of great faith. I probably would struggle if every single penny was taken away from me or my family. This woman had nothing, absolutely nothing to hold on to in her misery. She did not even have  a husband on whom to lean on at this moment of need.

How many times we lean on others instead of leaning on God? We trust in credit cards, money, friends, our jobs, our spouse, or our parents to take us out of trouble. Some people trust that when they will be too old to sustain themselves, their children will take care of them. We are constantly substituting a childlike faith in God by faith in something or someone else. This may be a good time to let go of everyone and everything else, and start trusting in God.

Lord, forgive me for putting my trust in everything but you; for not trusting completely in your love and your grace. Forgive me for not casting every care onto you each and every day. Change my heart and make me as dependent as this poor woman, whose only hope was in you.

The Children’s Kingdom

Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” (Luke 18: 15-17)

There is wisdom in all that God has created. King Solomon observed nature and animals to draw wisdom from their behavior.  In the same way, Jesus points to little children and tells us that unless we receive His kingdom as they do, we cannot enter it.  

One of the most precious things about little children is their total confidence in his parents’ love. They are not afraid of being truthful, because they know they are deeply loved. One of my dearest memories about my son is when he was about 2 years old. He had done something wrong and I asked him about it. I knew immediately that he was lying. I asked him again, “Son, are you telling me the truth?” His response allowed me to peek at the kind of man he’d grow up to be. Being totally transparent and unafraid, he answered, “No mom.”  He knew he could trust in my love and forgiveness if he was honest with me. In the same way, if we want to have a true relationship with God, we must come to Him with this childlike attitude, totally trusting and depending in His love.

Another example of this childlike faith is King David. About one year had passed after he felt into sin with Bathsheba, murdering her husband. Nathan the prophet presented before David and rebuked him for his sin. David immediately recognized his fault saying, “I have sinned against the Lord!”  God seeing his sincere repentance forgave him immediately as well. This is the kind of attitude that is required from us to enter God’s kingdom, enough sincerity to recognize our faults and the willingness to repent and change.

Children’s devotion towards God comes from the heart. They don’t try to impress others; they just want to please God. The bible tells us that King David brought back the Ark of the Covenant to the City of David. He was extremely joyful, and totally unabashed he danced with all his might before the Lord to express his gladness. This is the kind of praise that God approves, sincere and wholehearted praise.

The Bible describes the life of the first congregation in Jerusalem this way, “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart.” “They had all things in common.” Like a bunch of grown up kids, this brothers and sisters gathered to eat together and the hallmark of their gatherings was their openness and love for each other. I am not saying that they were immature in their thinking. They were growing in sanctity, knowledge, and wisdom, but their simplicity and love for each other is worthy of imitation.

Dependence in God, honesty to recognize our faults, the willingness to repent, a wholehearted praise, simplicity of heart and a sincere love for our brethren are characteristics the Lord wants to see in us. In fact these are the very marks of true Christianity.

How to “un-grow” like a spiritual Benjamin Button from a doubtful, unfaithful, pretending attitude to a trusting and sincere childlike faith? Learning from Jesus. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11: 29).

Everything begins and ends with Him. He is our example, our redeemer and the only one who can mold us into His image. It is only through Him that we can be forgiven, cleansed and transformed. Let’s come to Him in total dependence, trusting in His love, willing to yield to His will for there is no other way to enter into His kingdom.  

Lord: Help us to develop a simple, trusting, sincere childlike faith in you.

Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature (1 Corinthians 14: 20)