Scripture Reading:

Luke 21:1-4

Key Verse:

And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (Luke 21:27)

What does this passage teach us?

We learn, for one thing, from these verses—how keenly our Lord Jesus Christ observes the things that are done upon earth. We read that “he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.” We might well suppose that our Lord’s mind at this season would have been wholly occupied with the things immediately before Him. His betrayal, His unjust judgment, His cross, His passion, His death—were all close at hand—and He knew it. The approaching destruction of the temple, the scattering of the Jews, the long period of time before His second coming were all things which were spread before His mind like a picture. It was but a few moments ago he spoke of them. And yet at a time like this, we find Him taking note of all that is going on around Him! He thinks it not beneath Him, to observe the conduct of a “certain poor widow.”

Let us remember, that the Lord Jesus never changes. The thing that we read of in the passage before us, is the thing that is going on all over the world. “The eyes of the Lord are in every place” (Prov. 15:3). Nothing is too little to escape His observation. No act is too trifling to be noted down in the book of His remembrance. The same hand that formed the sun, moon, and stars was the hand that formed the tongue of the gnat and the wing of the fly, with perfect wisdom. The same eye that sees the council-chambers of kings and emperors, is the eye that notices all that goes on in the laborer’s cottage. “All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” (Heb. 4:13).

He measures littleness and greatness, by a very different measure from the measure of man. Events in our own daily life, to which we attach no importance, are often very solemn and serious matters in Christ’s sight. Actions and deeds in the weekly history of a poor man, which the great of this world think trivial and contemptible are often registered as weighty and important in Christ’s books. He lives, who marked the gift of one “poor widow” as attentively as the gifts of many “rich men.”

Let the poor believer take comfort in this mighty truth. Let him remember daily that his Master in Heaven takes account of everything that is done on earth, and that the lives of poor cottagers are noticed by Him as much as the lives of kings. The pious acts of a poor believer have as much dignity about them as the acts of a prince. The small contributions to the Gospel which the laborer makes out of his scanty earnings are as much valued in God’s sight as a ten thousand dollar check from a noble.

To know this thoroughly, is one great secret of contentment. To feel that Christ looks at what a man is, and not at what a man has will help to preserve us from envious and murmuring thoughts. Happy is he who has learned to say with David, “I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me” (Ps. 40:17).

We learn, for another thing, from these verses—who they are whom Christ reckons most liberal in giving money to Gospel purposes. We read that He said of the poor widow who cast two mites into the treasury, “Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.” These words teach us that Christ looks at something more than the mere amount of men’s gifts in measuring their liberality. He looks at the proportion which their gifts bear to their property. He looks at the degree of self-denial which their giving entails upon them. He would have us know that some people appear to give much to religious purposes who in God’s sight give very little; and that some appear to give very little who in God’s sight give very much.

The subject before us is particularly heart-searching. On no point perhaps do professing Christians come short so much as in the matter of giving money to God’s cause. Thousands, it may be feared, know nothing whatever of “giving” as a Christian duty. The little giving that there is, is confined entirely to a select few in the churches. Even among those who give, it may be boldly asserted, that the poor generally give far more in proportion to their means, than the rich. These are plain facts which cannot be denied. The experience of all who collect for Christian charities, will testify that they are correct and true.

Let us judge ourselves in this matter of giving, that we may not be judged and condemned at the great day. Let it be a settled principle with us to watch against stinginess; and whatever else we do with our money, to give regularly and habitually to the cause of God.

Not least, let us look round the world and ask where are the men that were ever ruined by liberal giving to godly purposes, and who ever found himself really poorer by lending to the Lord? We shall find that the words of Solomon are strictly true, “There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.” (Proverbs 11:24)

Finally—let us pray for rich men, who as yet know nothing of the luxury of “giving”—that their riches may not be their ruin. Hundreds of Gospel movements are standing still continually for lack of funds. Great and effectual doors are open to the church of Christ for doing good all over the world but for lack of money, few can be sent to enter in by them. Let us pray for the Holy Spirit to come down on all our congregations, and to teach all our worshipers what to do with their money.

Of all people on earth, none ought to be such liberal givers as Christians. All that they have they owe to the free gift of God. Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Gospel, the Bible, the means of grace, the hope of glory—all are undeserved, incomparable gifts, which millions of unbelieving nations never heard of! The possessors of such gifts ought surely to be “ready to distribute” and “willing to give.” A giving Savior—ought to have giving disciples. Freely we have received, freely we ought to give (Matt. 10:8; 1 Tim. 6:18).

Questions:

1. What are the themes of chapters 1-21?
2. How is it true that the widow gave more than all the others?
3. What do the Proverbs teach about generous giving?

Family Application Questions:

1. How are we doing in our giving to our local church and to other Christian and kingdom-oriented ministries?
2. How have we seen God’s faithfulness in the past to provide for our needs even as give? Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 for God’s promises on this.