HE NOTICED HER!
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 few cents.
43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, 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.” Mark 12:41-44
Why was this incident recorded here, in the centre of Jesus’ warning against people honouring the false pride of the religion scholars? They expected to receive accolades because their “knowledge” had puffed them up. By contrast, this poor widow did something from her heart because she did not expect to be noticed. Amazing how often Jesus brought into the limelight the unnoticed ones because they acted from the heart and for God rather than for man’s attention and praise!
In this situation, Jesus shows us how God evaluates our generosity, not by what we give but by what we have left over. In this case the widow gave all – she had nothing left over for herself. Would the Father have left her with nothing? I doubt it. She had created a current with her two small coins that would surely have brought back to her the abundance of God‘s supply. Who knows but Jesus Himself would have instructed His disciples to put money into her hands?
What is the point of this story in this context? Jesus warned His disciples not to admire the ones with knowledge simply because they had knowledge. They were using their knowledge to gain attention and admiration from men. Yes, God noticed them, but with disdain because of their self-centredness. Jesus instead drew His disciples’ attention to the one person who had no reason for position or prestige. She was a nameless widow; she was a woman and she was poor, yet her being and behaviour had more value to God than those with knowledge. She, not they, reflected the heart of God because of her generosity.
God is pleased with humility that acts out of reverence and love for Him rather than with an eye to the admiration of the people who really don’t matter anyway. God is also pleased with faith that obeys Him and leaves the outcome to Him. If we do what He tells us to, He will do what He has promised.