10th April - Widow’s Offering
Luke 21:1-4
The Widow's Offering
1 Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. 3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
Reflections by Gloria Seo
Being a ‘Christian’ was an assumed and given part of my identity from a young age. I attended Sunday school because I was told to. I owned multiple Bibles, yet they mainly remained unopened. I was familiar with the church members, but the gospel message not so much. Unsurprisingly, my weekly Sunday church services were soon voluntarily swapped for other activities that, at the time, seemed to promise me a more fulfilling and satisfying life. Thank goodness for the season of growing discontentment, frustration and confusion that ensued. During this time of wrestling with the fear of uncertainty and disappointment in life (the first of many to come), my ears opened to the sweet assurance of the gospel. I could no longer deny how imperfect and broken I was. I agreed that there was no other comparable love, forgiveness and grace that the world had to offer. Were these really freely given to me, not by my own merit, but through Jesus, who, out of His love, took upon Himself the penalty of my sin, defeated death and made me alive in Him? As fearful and confused as I may still be, now, I pray that my moments of weakness will be used to remind me and others of the sufficiency of Jesus’s grace and power.
What jumps out at you from this reading?
Two significant aspects of the passage capture my attention - the poor widow’s courage and the devotion of her heart. The poor widow must have observed many other Jews dressed in finer garments, bringing their lavish contributions to the offering box. I can’t help but wonder what the widow would have been thinking and feeling as she tightly held on to those two small but precious copper coins, ready to surrender what others might consider an insignificant amount but, to her, the value of her entire possession. To me, her actions demonstrate courage. She showed boldness by not letting her circumstances, worries about tomorrow’s provision, or fear of man’s judgement waver her dedication to God. This momentous act of offering, consisting of two small copper coins, indicates the woman’s admirable faith, wisdom and devotion underlying her decision. Without using a single word, the widow proved to others that she served God only as the true Master of her life and that the hope of her heart lay in heaven.
What questions does this reading raise for you?
The reading raises two questions for me:
1) How willing am I to offer my life to God sacrificially?
2) What areas of my life do I need to repent, pray, and surrender that currently compete with my heart’s devotion to God?
What do you think the writer is urging his readers to believe or do?
Although this passage prompts many thoughts and actions, I think the common theme would be ‘offering’.
Who or what do you say that you’re offering your life to? In your everyday living, how are you demonstrating that your life is about serving God and devoted to Him? How much impact does the gospel message, the reality that Jesus offered up His own life so that we can have eternal life in Him, have on your daily decisions?
I also believe that it isn’t the writer’s intention to ignite within the readers a sense of dooming guilt, nor an impulsive fervour to sell all possessions to donate to charity (you can if you want). For me, the questions raised led me to stop. Then reflect. And finally, repent. All so that I could be more alert and awakened to the everpresent loving embrace of God in my life.
What in this reading would you talk about with a friend and why?
I’d ask my friend:
“What stood out for you in today’s passage?”
“What do you find difficult to surrender to God in this current season of life? Why do you think that is?”
“How does this passage deepen your faith in Jesus and knowledge of God?”
Through discussion, I’d like to supplement my understanding of the text and mutually reach a deeper understanding of God’s grace and love so that we may be encouraged to live a life devoted to Him alone.