“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)
