The rich poor widow
(1 Kings 17: 10-16; Psalm 146; Heb 9: 24-28; Mark 12: 38-44)
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How did Jesus know about this poor woman’s state?
May be Jesus was able to deduce some things based upon the lady’s appearance. She was likely dressed like a poor person. Maybe she was alone, and perhaps looked lonely.
How did Jesus know that the 2 mites she gave were all that she had?
Jesus was not just any other man! He was God in the flesh! It was no big deal for Jesus to have supernatural knowledge about this woman. He has done this before i.e., John 4, the Samaritan woman. Jesus not only knew this woman’s circumstances; He knew her heart. The truth is that the lord still knows things about us that nobody else knows!
Why was Jesus impressed with her?
Jesus was impressed with her because of the attitude in which she gave. This passage of Scripture is used often to talk about “Giving”. But I think it goes way beyond that! Technically, this woman didn’t have to tithe i.e. How do you tithe off of 2 cents? So why was the woman there? That is where her attitude comes into play. She believed in God’s work! This woman truly wanted to give. Even if it didn’t matter to anyone. We should also be impressed (as Jesus was) at the unassuming way in which she gave. She didn’t make a big show i.e., Contrast “Pharisaical” giving and her giving. She quietly and cheerfully sacrificed her whole living, and didn’t tell a soul!
This woman apparently had no one else to help her in life. And think about what those 2 little coins represented to this widow! Many of us wouldn’t even bend over to pick up a penny on the ground. Yet, to this woman, those 2 coins were the sum total of her livelihood! But something incredible happened when this poor widow gave her all. She then became totally, absolutely dependent upon God! The truth is, “Everything we have, and everything we are needs to belong to God. Then He allows us to be stewards over these things.” It’s a challenge for each one of us to throw ourselves at the feet of God like this woman did!
Why was Jesus not impressed with the rich but impressed with the widow?
He is saying that the wealthy’s Donation was about:
SELF – PROMOTION -. They wanted everyone to know that they gave.
FAKE PEOPLE – they wanted to be seen as sacrificing so much -when in reality they were not even returning back to God what was God’s – they were tipping Him.
HEARTLESS – their heart was absent from the whole thing.
The Widow’s offering was about:
SELF – DENYING – she could have kept one but she didn’t. While they gave out of abundance, she gave her ALL.
SELF- SACRIFICE – she gave everything freely. She sacrificed all and trusted God for the care of her life.
SELF- SURRENDER. She turned over everything. No fuss, not begrudging.
Conclusion: I want to assure you today that if you are struggling, as this woman was, that Jesus knows and understands your plight! Are you going through a financial, physical, emotional or spiritual crisis? “Jesus knows all about your struggles. There’s not a friend like Jesus. No not one!