The Widow's Mite
The parable of the widow's mite is a story found in the Gospels of Mark and Luke. 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 fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to Him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, 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)
It was almost a social obligation to give a silver coin at temple collections. Only the very poor could get away with giving a copper coin like the widow gave and only the desperately poor would give a copper coin as small as the mite. But in Jesus' eyes this poor widow gave more than all the others put together, though her gift was by far the smallest. The value of a gift is not determined by its amount but by the spirit in which it is given. A gift given grudgingly or for recognition loses its value. So when we give we need to remember-gifts of any size are pleasing to God when they are given out of gratitude and a spirit of generosity.
The sportsman's tip of the week was 1 John 2:17. The world and its desires will all pass away, but the man who does the will of God endures forever.
In Christ,
Jimmy High
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