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Giving Everything
by Cindie York Luke 21:1-4 (CEV) Jesus looked up and saw some rich people tossing their gifts into the offering box. He also saw a poor widow putting in two pennies. And He said, "I tell you that this poor woman has put in more than all the others. Everyone else gave what they didn't need. But she is very poor and gave everything she had." My husband and I often give our six year old daughter our spare change, dollar bills, and the occasional five dollar bill for one reason or another and she places them securely in her little purses. She finds it necessary to carry her purse to church services just like mommy. She is six going on twenty sometimes. Several times lately we will be going out the front door and we have to stop everything to allow her time to get her purse. I mean it would be a travesty to leave without it, so of course, my husband and I will wait while she decides which purse she will be carrying. It really is quite precious. This past Sunday night she chose her white purse to match her outfit and off we went to church. The time had come in the service for the giving of tithes and offerings. The Pastor called for the ushers to come forth and receive these gifts from the church body. My child just beams when it is time for the offering basket to be passed. I had never understood why she enjoys it so, but I definitely can tell that participating in this part of the service makes her happy. While I prepared to give my portion to the offering, I looked over and my child pulled out her little change purse and got every last cent out and said, "Mommy, I want to give this in the offering. That will make Jesus happy." When the offering basket was passed to my daughter, she placed everything she had inside. This wasn't the first time she had acted unselfishly, she ALWAYS gives everything she has in her purse to the offering. She even gave the money she received from losing her teeth in the offering instead of buying a toy or candy. Not because she was made to, but because she wanted to give. I had finally got it! No wonder she grins from ear to ear, she is a cheerful giver and we know in scripture that God loves a cheerful giver. Wow, what a witness, what selfless acts of stewardship. Immediately my mind went back to the scripture of the widow with her last two mites. It wasn't the amount my daughter gave but the fact that she gave it all. She never expected anything in return. She gave it willfully. I have read the scripture many times of the widow giving all she had and I have often wondered how many people have this kind of faith to literally give God everything. I believe it would be safe to say, not many. Not that I think people are necessarily stingy but more so that they must have that which is tangible and visible. After all, having financial security with the reassurance of knowing that the meal barrel isn't empty, gives such a peace of mind. Not to mention that the concept of giving everything is one of the scariest things imaginable. Giving everything takes unwavering faith, such as that of child-like faith, fully trusting God for provisions. My six year old knows in her heart that God can do anything and will take care of everything. Who would have thought my child would be teaching me a lesson in stewardship and giving. We adults could definitely learn a thing or two from children. I have been a Christian for 23 years. I enjoy Bible study and growing in the knowledge of God's word. I literally want to soak up God's Word like a sponge. Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |