Jesus sat across from the collection box for the temple treasury and observed how the crowd gave their money. Many rich people were throwing in lots of money. One poor widow came forward and put in two small copper coins worth a penny. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I assure you that this poor widow has put in more than everyone who’s been putting money in the treasury. All of them are giving out of their spare change. But she from her hopeless poverty has given everything she had, even what she needed to live on.” (Mark 12:41-44, CEB)
I have heard so many people say, oh be like the widow who gave everything and was lifted up by Jesus. But that is not how I read this passage. This is not a stewardship passage in the way we think it is a stewardship passage.
Jesus watches people putting money in the collection box at that temple and sees a widow who puts in all the money she has, while others have tipped the box. She gave everything she needed to live on, out of her poverty. Because everyone has to give, and she had nothing to begin with, and had to give all she had. The system was rigged against her just like the system is rigged against the poor now. The system is in place to keep the poor in their place. And she is not a model of stewardship; she is the reason the rest of us need to step up our giving. We are blessed to be a blessing, not to tip God.
Do not say she is the model. Give so she does not have to and can live, as we are all given life to live it.
aSacredRebel 