“God’s not asking for you to give a lot, He’s asking you to give everything”

TODAY’S READING:  Job 23; Job 24; Mark 11; Mark 12

SCRIPTURE: MARK 12:43-44

“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.  They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.’"

OBSERVATION:

The passage gets to the core difference between piety and faith and between religion and relationship.  It is easy to give a lot and still not give yourself to God.  Especially if you have a lot.  This ladies money made little difference to the workings of the temple.  I am sure it was looked upon like people today sometimes look at pennies in the offering basket.  “What are we supposed to do with these?”  Though it made little difference in regards to temple work, her tiny offering (or according to God HUGE OFFERING) is still paying dividends in Kingdom work.

Tough it was probably overlooked by most, it caught God’s attention so greatly that it would make the writings of the Bible.  So today, thru this story, we learn something about God.  We learn what relationship between God and man looks like.  We learn that the heart of God is not looking for us to give a lot, but to give our all.

APPLICATION:

I can sometimes find myself feeling that I have given enough.  Especially, if I play the comparative game.  If I weigh my relationship with God - my service, my time, my tithe, etc., against the status quo.  As I read this, I felt the Holy Spirit whisper, “God’s not asking for you to give a lot, He’s asking you to give everything.”  More than money, or muscle power, or time.  My heart, my family, my future, my entire self belongs to God.

PRAYER:

Father, forgive me for my piety at times.  Help me to release all that I am to you.  Help me to more and more, give you areas of my life that I have held onto.  I really want you to have all of me.  I want you to set the course for my life.  Help me to stop giving you a lot and help me to give you my all.  In Jesus name - AMEN.