November 10, 2024 Sermon
Sermon title: “The Widow’s Mite”
Scripture: Mark 12:38-44
(Other lectionary suggestions include Ruth 3:1-5 and 4:13-17, Psalm 127, and Hebrews 9:24-28.)
Mark 12:38-44
Jesus Denounces the Scribes
38As he taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! 40They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”
The Widow’s Offering
41He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. 43Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. 44For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
The story of the Widow’s Mite (and that does not refer to an insect or a bug - ha, ha!) is a pretty famous one, which you probably first heard in Sunday School. All the rich people are donating to the temple treasury - and that’s a good thing! The church needs money to operate. But Jesus notices a poor widow, who puts in all she had: two copper coins. And he makes the astounding proclamation that she put in more than the others. (You and I know things such as “It’s the thought that counts.” Also, “The size of the gift doesn’t matter.” But back then, and maybe even a little bit today, when somebody gives a big gift, we notice. But leave it to Jesus to realize that this woman gave out of her poverty - all she had. So, her gift actually cost her more than what the bigger gifts cost THEIR donors. They gave what they could afford to part with, but the widow gave all she had. She really could NOT afford to part with what she gave. And yet she gave it all.
This is a great Scripture on which to preach as Stewardship Sunday approaches! But really, we don’t want anyone to give more than what he or she can afford. And nobody should be “guilted” into giving too much. I have heard stories of people sending in money to TV preachers, who preyed on those who could least afford it! They had their jet planes and the people sending in money had their trailers! (Nothing wrong with living in a trailer – I’ve done that. But for those struggling to make ends meet, it is SINFUL to make them feel as if they need to give to so-and-so’s jet plane ministry!)
There is a joke about giving to a TV ministry. Have you heard of Oral Roberts? He told his listeners and viewers that God told him He would call Brother Oral home - i.e., to HEAVEN! - if he didn’t raise a certain amount of money. So, the joke is.....Did you hear that Oral Roberts died? What happened? Somebody’s check bounced!
There is also another story about the rather well-to-do guy who had come to church for a long time and never increased his pledge. So, the minister took the guy to lunch and said, “Earl (or whatever his name was), you seem to be doing okay in life: you live in a nice neighborhood, you drive a nice car, and you wear nice clothes. Have you ever thought of increasing your pledge?” Earl was a little irritated with the minister’s request, and he said, “Reverend, did you know I have a sister in an institution in Florida?” The preacher did NOT know that, and he said, “No, I'm sorry to hear that.” And Earl goes on: “I also have a ne'er-do-well brother who can’t seem to hold down a job.” The preacher says, “Oh, I’m sorry. I was not aware.” “Also, my sick mother is in an assisted-living facility.” The preacher by this time is a little embarrassed. And Earl says, “I don’t give them a dime. So why do you think I’d increase my pledge?!”
In all seriousness, what one gives should be between himself/herself and God. And - as I have said before - there are other good causes out there in addition to the church. So, YOU decide. The story of Jesus noticing the poor widow is a wonderful story, and I personally will never forget it. But again, what you give should be between yourself and God.
One of the things you may recall that I have said before is that sometimes when I write a sermon, I learn something! Today was one of those times. When Jesus saw that widow give EVERYTHING she had, it may have reminded him that HE was about to give everything he had, too, and it wasn’t money he was about to give. He was about to give up his VERY LIFE.
We are in the 12th chapter of Mark’s Gospel. It goes only until Chapter 16, so we are very close to the end. And Jesus has to know how it’s going to end. For me, there is something sad about the inevitability of all this. True, we believe Jesus came to die, and yet there is still a certain sadness that things had to be this way.
Back to Jesus and his noticing the tiny amount given by the poor widow........Jesus does that a LOT: sees the greatness in what seems like something ordinary. Next week we’ll hear a Scripture that says the disciples are so impressed with the Jerusalem temple, but Jesus tells them that not one stone will be left on top of the other. Again, Jesus seems to know what’s important. We get a little of that when we remember Jesus’s saying, “The first shall be last and the last first.” Jesus knows what is truly important, and he wants his followers to know that, too. I am always reminded of that Old Testament quote from the book of Isaiah: “Your thoughts are not my thoughts, nor are my thoughts your thoughts, saith the Lord.”
How do we learn to think the way God thinks? By looking at Jesus, and by trying to emulate him. It’s easy to say, but not so easy to do! Amen.
Pastor Skip
