Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Complete Devotion-11-21-18



For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.”-Mark 12:44

Measurements of devotion are often denoted in how much is given.  The athlete is devoted to his sport because of the number of hours he practices.  The carpenter to his craft because of the amount of product he turns out.  The employee to business, because of time served.  The more your give or produce; the more you are devoted.  While this may be a measure of devotion, it is certainly not the greatest measure.   

The parable found in the twelve chapter of Mark tells of Jesus sitting by the treasury watching the people bring their donations.  It says that many that were rich cast in much.  Then along comes this poor widow women.  She puts in but a couple pennies.  If you’re a treasure of the church, who would you rather have sitting in your pew?  From a bottom line standpoint, strictly numbers, the one who gave more, devoted more.  Jesus then goes on to say that of their abundance they casted in, but the widow gave all she had.  To offer another illustration, a poor urchin boy was brought into the hospital for surgery.  The doctor worked with great care and healed the boy.  Afterwards, the boy went home, and then came back the next day with a tattered old teddy bear.  He explained to the doctor that he didn’t have any money, but this was his beloved little teddy bear, and it was the only one he had.  He then gave it to the doctor as payment for his service.  The doctor broke down and wept, calling the teddy bear the greatest payment he ever received for his service.  God is not concerned about how much you give.  God does not look down on humanity and force us into service.  He doesn’t want your time, money, and energy because he needs it.  He wants it because he loves you, and he is worthy of it.  Devotion is not in the casting of our abundance, but rather the giving in our lack.  This is where we express our devotion.  It is the total surrender that God sees, and total surrender is a far greater measure of devotion.  Production is a worldly mindset, and a worldly attitude.  The idea that we can buy, sell, get gain; then give a part of that gain to God, and this proves we are serving him?  It is backwards theology.  It is Babel theology.  Building up, to get to heaven, instead of humbling ourselves and asking God to send heaven down to us.  God can give us all things, if we give all things over to Him.  This poor widow was the example of complete devotion, giving all that she had.

Devotion is not about what you are giving God, but what you’re not.  It is not about how much is being cast into the treasury, as much as what is being held back.  What are you unwilling to surrender?  What are you unwilling to give?  What we hold back from God is a far greater measure of how devoted we are to him.  “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” (Malachi 3:10)

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