Luke 21: 1- 4 As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

“You mean God is asking me to give away all my money and go hungry?”  I wish I knew what was going on in this poor lady’s heart and mind when she released her last two pennies as an offering in the temple. Maybe she thought surely someone would take pity on her and give her money for food at least. After all she was in her community, someone must know her circumstances! Maybe it was an act of faith or gratitude. But look what Jesus thought of her act. He interpreted it as an act of love. You protest – “that’s not in the text!”  Yes it is. It was an act of sacrifice! That resonates with God! Love is costly.

In my own life, I have discovered that sacrifice is the only synonym for true love. As a believer, you will learn that there is room for duty in your giving but there is additional room for sacrificial giving. It is one way of obeying, honoring and loving God.  Think about this – if there is someone in your circle of friends who is always saying “I love you” but has never given you even a toothpick, shouldn’t that make you wonder?

The beauty about giving to God’s work is that it comes with the promise of abundance. Did the widow just get a hold of that truth and set out to test it? In Malachi 3 the prophet admonished the Israelites about their stinginess towards God. In verse 10 he challenged them: “Bring the whole tithe (1/10^th) into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” You protest again and say “that was then!” But look at what Jesus said: “Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with what measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38). This is God’s blueprint for financial stability in the lives of those who follow him.