At home, I have a set of ancient coins. There’s a silver coin bearing the image of Emperor Vespasian from the 1st Century. But there are also a few small copper coins. They were the smallest and most worthless coins in circulation. In Greek, they’re called “leptons”. We might more commonly know them as widow’s mites.
I keep these coins because they remind me of the widow’s offering described in Mark 12. Jesus is at the temple in Jerusalem, observing people giving their offering at the treasury. We’re told that many people give large amounts. By contrast, a poor widow gives only two small copper coins, “leptons”. Her offering seems inconsequential, but Jesus says that this widow gave more than all the others. He says, “They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything” (Mk 12:44).
I keep these coins because they rebuke me. They remind me of the extravagant attitude and sacrificial devotion of the widow. We give what we’re comfortable to give. It’s a way of keeping control. She gave her everything to God. She gave up control.
I’m reminded of this widow, because this Sunday we’ll have a finance update at our services. Church Council has recently approved the budget for 2025, and we’d like to communicate with you the needs of our ministries. Our church budget consists primarily of staff and property costs, but also includes giving 12% of our income to our mission partners. St Andrew’s is entirely reliant on the generosity of God’s people to meet our costs.
Our giving is our response of thanksgiving to God’s generosity
It’s a spiritually healthy habit to regularly and prayerfully consider your own giving. As you do so, please keep in mind the following things.
First, assume that giving is often difficult for you. Money blinds us to its power over us. It’s often our security. We normally think that we don’t have enough. We don’t like to let it go. That’s why we find the story of the widow unsettling. We need to continually work to detach ourselves from the hold money has on us.
Second, have a plan for your giving. The story of the widow’s offering tells us that God is more interested in our attitude than the amount we give. But it also tells us that our giving (of our time and gifts, as well as our money) is an act of trust in God. As King David’s prayer reminds us, “Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand” (1 Chron. 29:14). From a practical perspective, it’s helpful for the church if you give in a planned and regular way through our “Planned Christian Giving” (PCG) scheme.
Third, always remember the gospel. The widow gave everything she had to live on, but Jesus literally gave his life for us. We cannot outgive God. Our giving is our response of thanksgiving to God’s generosity to us in Jesus. It’s a privilege to use the resources God has given us for God’s causes.
