What I’m Thinking: Small Matters

Jesus watched people giving, and after a woman put two coins in the box and hurried away, he told his friends that she had given more than any of the rest. She had given all she had.

Here’s a transcript:

I am thinking about the end of the twelfth chapter of Mark (Mark 12:38-44). It’s the story about Jesus being in the temple with his disciples, and watching while people put money into the contribution box.

When one woman puts in two small coins – worth very little – and then hurries away, Jesus turns to his disciples and tells them that this woman had given more than all the rest, for the others had given out of their abundance, but she had given out of her poverty. And in fact, had given all she had.

Some years ago I was working with people planning a capital campaign, and there was this pyramid of giving. And at the top was a single donor, who gave roughly a tenth of the total goal for the campaign. And at the bottom was a large number of donors, and their contribution, in the end, turned out to be about the same (one tenth) as that one other person had given at the top of the triangle.

In giving, we tend to focus on those folks toward the top, the ones who can give the tenth or the twentieth, the major portions of what we seek. But it is also true that those many people contributing smaller amounts – they still are absolutely essential. Their gifts make a difference. They matter.

Just as that one woman mattered that day in the temple.

Now honestly, I always worry about that one woman. What did she live on after she placed her two coins in the box? Did she arrive home and discover that she had, perhaps, been miraculously blessed? I don’t know, and frankly, I fear that she did not.

What I do know is that God does love our generous hearts, no matter where we are, top or bottom, of the giving triangle. And God honors us when we share.

And God loves us… always.

That’s what I’m thinking. I’m curious to hear what you’re thinking. Leave me your thoughts in the comment section below; I’d love to hear from you.