A Picture of True Saving Faith
Mark 12:41-44 (NIV)
41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.
42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.
43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.
44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on."
What does true repentance look like? What does saving faith look like? Jesus had taught on this subject many times but now he has a perfect picture of it displayed for the disciples to see.
They had been in the temple all day on Monday and they had watched how Jesus had overthrown the money changers' tables and cast out all who were in the temple under false pretenses. After Jesus had cleared the temple and courtyards there was a procession of those who came to give their offerings. They watched as the Pharisees and the rich paraded to the front and made a great display of how much they were giving.
You could almost hear the crowd oohing and awing as each offering amount was announced. Some of the amounts were staggering to those who were poor. Certainly God would look on these who made such offering with favor, these were the ones who had the greatest faith, or so they thought.
After the great parade of the wealthy was over and the crowds were all leaving there was a small bent over widow woman who had waited until the crowds were no longer looking. The place was now almost empty and the janitor had begun to clean the temple and was about to close the doors when way in the back Jesus noticed this frail old bent over woman making her way to the offering table and almost with fear of being found out she quietly put in her offering and slipped away unnoticed.
She may have been unnoticed by the crowds that day but she was noticed by the one who really mattered. Jesus quietly points out her act of worship to his disciples. I can almost hear his voice as he speaks with quiet intensity, "Do you see that men? Did you notice that small frail widow? Did you see what she did?"
The disciples had missed it because they were too busy being awed by the large offerings of the rich and the famous. Now Jesus turns the tables once again. He uses this woman to demonstrate to his disciples what true saving looks like.
"You have been awed by the offerings of the rich, but notice they still have lots left over. Sure, they gave a lot of money but the proportion of what they gave was small in comparison to this pone little widow woman. They tossed in out of their abundance, but she gave all she had.'
'Men this is a picture of true faith. She put it all on the line. She gave out of her deep poverty everything she had to live on. She now has nothing left to buy even the basic necessities. She is trusting in her God that he will provide, but even if he does not she will still follow.'
'Things have not worked out for her in her life as she wanted. Her husband died and left her without any inheritance so she is now reduced to poverty but she still desires to worship God, she still comes to the temple and offers her life to God, no matter what. Yes sir men this is real saving faith. Offering to God all that you are without reservation.
Men this is true saving faith. Casting all you have on God without holding anything back."
Let us learn from this widow woman. Let us give ourselves without reservation to our Lord. NO holding back, no hidden sin, just complete openness and trust in his care for us.
Offering all that I have to all that I know of Him,