He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums.” vs. 41
Mark 12:41-44
It’s fascinating to read in Mark that while he was in Jerusalem Jesus took time away from his teaching to sit down by the treasury and watch people give. He knew that there is no better way to gauge what is in a person’s heart than to observe their giving habits. That’s one of the reasons that some pastors give who insist on seeing how much each of their congregants give. It’s very likely the best way to know the state of that person’s spiritual health. Most people resent that kind of external scrutiny of their giving as an invasion of privacy. And it could be that it is. But even if it is, the truth of Jesus’ observation remains. Generous giving is one of the marks of a spiritually healthy person. And Jesus adds one more caveat in his teaching. Holding up the poor widow as a model, he tells his disciples that sacrificial giving is the standard most pleasing to him. We certainly get plenty of opportunities to give–our mailboxes are filled with pleas, especially this time of year. And many will give generous gifts, especially to those causes that are close to their hearts–and perhaps a few will give sacrificially. And for them there will undoubtedly be spiritual benefits.
Thought for the Day: What would sacrificial giving mean for me?
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