The Widow’s Mite

At the close of a day of furious controversy, Jesus Was resting in the outer court of the Temple. A widow put in two small coins. Mark 12:42 (Phillips)

I: Jesus Sat Down Opposite the Treasury.
1. The rich came with their gifts.
2. The poor came with their gifts.
3. The widow came quietly with her offering. She had no trumpeter to announce her gift. She had no desire for others to see or praise her. Her gift was from a heart full of live for Jehovah.

II: Jesus was Concerned about the Collection.
1. He was concerned about the collection because he observed who put in money.
2. He noticed how they gave, some from plenty, some from little.
3. He saw the attitude with which they gave.
4. He knew how they made their money and how much they had left.

III: If the Treasurer could Talk:
1. It would tell of broken promises.
2. It would speak of falsehood (Ananias and Sapphira).
3. It would tell of dollars for pleasure and pennies for God.
4. It would speak of sacrifice and selfishness.
5. It would tell of generosity and greed.

IV: Giving is a Privilege to Share in God’s Redemptive Purpose.
1. To deny men this privilege is to make him a spiritual pauper. Charity does more to harm the spirits of man than the body. No to Welfare, Yes to Spiritual Welfare.
2. The privilege of giving keeps our relationship with God vital and real.
3. It is easy to love when it cost us nothing.
4. “Must I be carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease.”

V: The Church should be Concerned about the Treasury.
1. Bad finances ruins a family or a church.
2. The treasury well balanced will make for a more spiritual church.
3. The total program of the church waits on finances.
4. The Pastor is concerned: his family, his visit to the sick, the troubled, the dying, the down and out, the up and out await him. He cannot operate his home and his automobile at full time until the treasury meets the needs.
5. No member has a right to be unconcerned or uncommitted. Giving is preportationate.
6. A pagan world awaits missionaries that need the treasurers help.
7. No man can give himself completely until his pocket book included. Our need to give is far greater than God’s need to receive.

The Widow’s Mite
Jesus had just finished a troublesome day in the temple. He criticized the Scribes’ teaching and behavior. The evening sacrifice was now over and he set on the steps facing the offering boxes. The majority of worshippers were gone, but some remained to meditate to give an offering, to pay a vow or to place the tithe in the treasury. Mark 12:41-44

I: Lord of the Treasury:
1. Jesus sat over against the treasury.
a. It was here the worshipers acknowledged the owernship of God and the stewardship of man.
b. Here the temple expenses were met or cut short.
c. This was God’s financial plan for His kingdoms work.
2. Jesus was concerned about the treasury!

II: Jesus Noticed the Amount Given.
1. He saw the rich cast in from their abundance.
2. He saw the pauper window cast in her days livelihood.
3. None were conscious of the master watching from the shadows.
4. Had they known, what a difference it might have made.
5. But Jesus still watched and keeps records.
a. He sees us as we earn our money.
b. He sees us as we make room for or refuse the church.
c. He observes the motive with which we give.
6. A cry of protest could be heard if the Church published the amount her members earned and the amount they gave to the Church treasury, but Jesus knows, we gladly give the same information to establish credit and by on time!
7. Would it make a difference if the Internal Revenue knew?

III: Jesus Wants our Gifts.
1. Watching the treasury was no idle pastime with Jesus.
a. God has always kept watch over the stewardship of his people.
b. God’s blessings were withheld from Israel when she robbed God’s treasury.
c. Ananias & Saphhira died because they lied about the offering. Acts 5:1-11
2. The offering of God’s people was always a “sweet smelling Savor,” to the Lord. Gen. 8:21, Exodus 29:18
3. God knows that if his people always receive and never give they become like the Dead Sea.

IV: Jesus Weighs our Gifts.
1. He not only noticed the amount given but the amount left.
2. He looked beyond the gift to the heart.
3. Jesus weighed the gift against the giver. (The rich gift of a member).

V: If the Treasury could Talk.
1. The temple treasury spoke and Jesus translated.
2. A story of poverty and plenty (Granny Jackson, Grover City).
3. A story of greed and generosity.
4. A story of selfishness and sacrifice.
5. The treasury speaks of our privileges and our willingness to accept the responsibility. “The acid test of a man’s love is his money. It is easy to love when it costs us nothing.” “Honey, I loves you, and if … it don’t rain.” A story of unpaid pledges!

Who can tell the value of a dollar or a cup of cold water given in His name? Matt. 9:41