When Less Is More
Mark L. Lastimoso
Luke 21:1-14 King James Version (KJV)
21 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A bronze mite, also known as a Lepton(meaning small), minted by Alexander Jannaeus, King of Judaea, 103 – 76 B.C.. and still in circulation at the time of Jesus[1]The Lesson of the widow’s mite is presented in the Synoptic Gospels(Mark 12:41-44,Luke 21:1-4), in which Jesusis teaching at the Temple in Jerusalem. The Gospel of Mark specifies that two mites (Greek lepta) are together worth a quadrans, the smallest Roman coin. A lepton was the smallest and least valuable coin in circulation in Judea, worth about six minutes of an average daily wage.[2]
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The book of Luke presents to us a dilemma in the temple. We all know that our giving represents the condition of our hearts before God. Yes, “God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7. Yet God clearly looks at the motives of the heart recorded in 2 Samuel 9:7. The contrast is between these rich men who are educated in the ways of religion and an impoverished widow who gave all while they gave a few from their abundance. Jesus teaches his disciples not to be beholden by those who are pretending to be morally upright because of their fine clothes, huge tithes, and importance in the temple courts. In effect, he is saying that the widow had worshipped God honorably by giving all has even though she was in extreme poverty. The rich men can still afford to live comfortable lives while she gave all that she has. The matter of the heart is what matters to God.
Friends, we are living in a greedy world not interested for this poor widow’s offering of two mites. As worldliness swept the hearts and minds of God’s people this story directs as to ask ourselves the question, “Am I living a real Christian life?” “Am I not withholding my all to worship God?” Am I faithful in small things before God?” These are some of the questions that we can ponder today.
The world wants more not less. The world wants biggest not smallest. The world wants prosperity not poverty. But I want to tell you that less is more when you give your all at the feet of Jesus Christ. True Christianity is obeying Christ even though it means to give up many things in our lives that distracts us from being true witnesses of Jesus.
There are two take away from this story that I want to share with you:
1. Jesus Christ looks at the motive of our hearts and is interested to cleanse our hearts by obedience to His Word.
My short testimony
2. Jesus Christ lovingly asks us to change our hearts and thereby change our lives to live a new life in Christ
Matthew 6:19-21 King James Version (KJV)
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
—————Amen. END
Suggested Hymns:
1. Hymn 329 Take the World But Give Me Jesus
2. Hymn 309 I Surrender All
Suggested short special Music:
Change my heart oh God,
Make it ever true.
Change my heart oh God,
May I be like You.
Make it ever true.
Change my heart oh God,
May I be like You.
You are the potter,
I am the clay,
Mold me and make me,
This is what I pray.