Apples of Gold

While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins. I tell you the truth Jesus said, this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has. Luke 21:1-4

Math has never been my favorite subject-At least not higher math. My brain seems to absorb the concepts and apply them in the moment but they seem to fall short of reaching the long-term recall sector of my mind. Even so, as I read Jesus’ words in this passage, I realize that something just doesn’t add up. The two small coins dropped in by the widow are assumed to be among the least valuable coins in circulation during this time. Surely the rich people were giving large sums of money or at least gifts worth more than a mere pittance and yet Jesus says she gave more than everyone else. 

In the spiritual realm 1 + 1 doesn’t necessarily equal 2. 

Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted. So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves. John 6:11-13

Wait, 12 baskets of leftovers? That is so much more than they even started out with. Thousands of people ate as much as they wanted-I imagine that size lunch would possibly satisfy one hungry man. This was not possible, and yet it was. 

Several years ago our family went through an interesting financial time. We had two large house payments-one from a home that just wouldn’t sell and the other from the home that we were living in-along with all the taxes, utilities and other bills that come along with it. Let’s just say things were pretty tight. I remember crunching the numbers and checking again and trying to figure out how we were paying all of our bills on time-every month when they exceeded our total income. The only conclusion I could reach was that something was going on in the spiritual realm that didn’t make sense to me but everything was being covered. 

There are times when we all have little to offer the Lord. Sometimes we are physically weary, emotionally battered, or financially drained and just mustering the strength to get dressed is a difficult task. During these times choosing to pour out your sacrifice before the Lord likely puts you in the shoes of the widow. You are not giving out of your surplus-you are giving all that you have. 

I wonder how the widow felt as she watched others bringing large and opulent gifts. Did she hesitate? Did she wonder if God would even want these tiny coins? I probably would have. Thankfully she ignored the discomfort and stepped forward, giving God all that she had. This sacrifice earned her a commendation from Jesus and a place in the Bible.  

Maybe she remembered the story of another widow who willingly gave God all she had when Elijah asked her to feed him:

But she said, I swear by the LORD your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die. But Elijah said to her, Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the LORD sends rain and the crops grow again! So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her family continued to eat for many days. There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the LORD had promised through Elijah. I Kings 17:12-16

Sometimes we keep a tight grip on our scraps. We get some type of security from keeping them where we can see them. We worry that others might realize that we are not the most talented, or the smartest, or the whateverist if we open up our fist and offer everything to God. 

If like me, you have days that you feel like your tank is empty, your gift is tarnished, your mind is racing and your offering is subpar, the good news is that is all God is looking for and that is all he needs to do something that might just blow your mind. 

Imagine the little boy watching his lunch feed more than 5,000 people and have leftovers! Or the widow, continuing to pour olive oil and flour from her containers day after day-knowing it should be gone. 

When we step out and offer God what we have, he steps in and does what only he can do. 

Thankfully, sometimes things just don’t add up!

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19