We’ve Got That
In Mark chapter 12 Jesus isn’t happy.
He’s been fighting with church people and just complained about ministers who cherish their long robes and longer prayers because they’re folks who crave respect from businessmen and take widows money to get it.
Then Jesus sees people bringing offerings to God. Some rich people throw in an amount that’s big to other people, but probably not to them. Then one of the poor widows comes up and puts in a couple of twenties.
Jesus says she brought more because she had less.
The widow’s twenties were just the kind of offering Jesus was mad at the church "devouring". Yet, his words about her sound a little bit amazed because, I think, Jesus saw the widow's deep heart of love through her offering.
I remember hearing about a faith community, not a huge one, but not four people in a living room either. The congregation had some real bills to pay for all the typical, boring stuff – utilities, salaries, donuts, etc.
One year around budget time, six members prayed, made a decision, and went quietly to the leadership. They said, "Hey, we can cover the congregation's bills. If you let us do that, then when the church gathers for worship, almost all the collection can go to serving the poor."
Why did these folks offer this?
They believed doing this quietly would be a way of revealing their hearts to the Lord. And, they sensed it would allow the congregation's heart to draw closer to the heart of Jesus.
How does what we share – not just in the church, but everywhere – reveal our heart to God? To other people? To us? Do we like what we see?
It's ok to say, "Yes."
It's also ok to say, "I want to work on that.