Giving God Our Leftovers
Do you like Thanksgiving leftovers? The other night at small group, I asked our group what their favorite Thanksgiving food items was. A couple people were quite emphatic when they said “leftovers.” We like a good turkey sandwich or that slice of pumpkin pie late at night.
Does God like Thanksgiving leftovers? Our giving is to be an expression of our love and thanks, but sometimes we only give God our leftovers. I know we all desire to give God our best. That’s why we serve in various ministries. We’ve got people who work two jobs, who put in 60-70 hours a week, and yet they find time to serve, and make the ministry of Son-Rise Christian Church possible. That’s why you put money in the plate faithfully every week or every month, even though your budget is tight. That’s why you talk to your neighbors about church. It’s why you share your faith in Christ with those you work with. You want to give God your best.
But sometimes we get discouraged because it feels like we don’t have much to give. Do you feel like sometimes you’re just giving God your leftovers? I know I have days like that. I have weeks like that. I have months like that. I give my best everywhere else. Sometimes, it’s going to good things, just not the best. Sometimes, though, I must confess it doesn’t. I give my best to serve my own wants and desires, and I give God whatever crumbs are leftover at the end.
So how can we make sure we are giving God our best? This is the very core of stewardship. This is the issue that is uncovered in four short verses at the end of Mark 12. It’s offering time at church. The praise band plays a peppy tune hoping to encourage generous giving. The plate is being passed, and Jesus is closely watching what each person puts in the plate. Okay, that’s a loose paraphrase, but that is what’s happening, only 1st century style.
Most in the temple gave their gifts quietly and unassumingly dropped in their gift with a scripture quotation or a prayer of thanksgiving. Some of the wealthier worshipers, however, made a great show and display of their giving. All of this was a way of saying, “Look how spiritual I am, how generous. Look how much I give.”
In marked contrast to these wealthy performers came a humble widow with her measly little gift. Only two coins! Two bronze coins. Worth only 1/100th of a denarii, valued at only 5 minutes of labor at the going rate.
Yet, Jesus when he gets out his giving calculator says that she gave more than all the others. Huh? What? Jesus do you need to get your eyes checked? Does your calculator need new batteries? Have you read the financial page of the Jerusalem Times lately? Those public schools up in Galilee must really be in bad shape if you think that she gave more.
No, Jesus was not mistaken. Kingdomnomics measures the widow’s gift, not by the size of the amount, but by the size of her trust, and the size of her love. Join us Sunday as we look at what kingdomnomics teaches us about giving.