March 11

Luke 21:1-3 Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
When we think of sacrificial giving, we probably think about a large donation or contribution. The person who sells their boat to give the money to the Kingdom of God, or the person who takes a valuable asset and gives it to a good cause, or the person who donates a six- figure gift. We usually don’t think of a widow who gives two small copper coins.
But, Jesus describes sacrificial giving as the poor widow giving two small copper coins rather than the rich donating their extravagant gifts. What does this teach us about sacrifice? The amount of the gift doesn’t determine sacrifice. It could be a sacrifice for someone to sell their boat and give it to the Kingdom of God, and it could also be a sacrifice for someone to give a few dollars out of their savings account. Sacrifice is costly. It is never easy.
God desires to use sacrificial people because that proves that their heart is closer to Him than their possessions.

Prayer: God, thank you for modeling sacrifice to me by giving up your only Son, Jesus Christ, for me. I give you my heart. What would you like me to give in this season to you?

Zack Potter, Associate Pastor