The widow who gave all, conclusion

Money, money, money!

It's necessary in most cultures, but the Bible warns us against placing more importance on it than it should rightfully have.

The widow in our passage this week gave all. She has given us a good example, hasn't she? She recognized the need for money, but she held it lightly in her fingers -- she very willingly and lovingly gave it all.

Peter tells us not to be greedy:

                  Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, watching over

                  them--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God

                  wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;

                  (I Peter 5:2)

We read in Hebrews that we shouldn't be greedy:

                  Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with

                  what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you;

                  never will I forsake you."  (Hebrews 13:5)

These might be the most famous words about money:

                  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people,
                  eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced
                  themselves with many griefs.  (I Timothy 6:10)

The lure of money is just as prevalent today as ever. But God's truth is still the same: He will provide for us. The widow had no one else to rely on, only our Father. But that is true for us, too, is it not? It doesn't matter if we are rich or poor; it makes no difference if we are always scrambling to make ends meet or if we have oodles of cash, we really have no one else to rely on.
Real security is not in our belongings, or our house, or our money -- real security is in God alone.

                   The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He
                   will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not
                   be discouraged.  (Deuteronomy 31:8)

                   Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the
                   name of the Lord our God.  (Psalm 20:7)

                   For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life,
                   as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body,
                   as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body
                   more than clothing? “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not
                   sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father
                   feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?
                   (Matthew 6:25-26)

The widow gave her two mites out of poverty. She gave all she had.

Is there some part of our lives that feels empty, impoverished? Are we lonely? Are we financially stretched thin? Are we worried about the future?

Whatever it is, whatever area of our life that feels empty . . . let's pray about it. Let's listen for the still small voice of the Spirit. Perhaps God will invite us to do something that will express our trust in Him. Perhaps we need to simply tell Him in prayer that we need for Him to solve the problem -- there's no more that we can do on our own. Or perhaps it will be a tangible something that we can do. What kind of offering would please our Father? Once we hear His voice, we need to follow through and give Him our all.