Outrageous generosity
Luke 21:1-4
1 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
The story that I get to reflect on today is one of my favourite passages of scripture, because there are so many layers of meaning.
Every time I have studied this very short passage, I have gotten something fresh and new revealed to me about God, his people, the church, the rich, the poor, generosity and greed.
Did you know that the amount that the widow gave is thought to be about 1/64th of a denarius, which was a labourer’s wage in the time of Jesus. In Australia, where I am writing this, the minimum wage for a labourer is currently $23.23 per hour (plus Super, minus tax). So that equates to $176.54 as the rough value of a denarius. This means that the widow gave something in the realm of about $2.75 if it had been given today.
Jesus made special exclamation about this level of generosity, because he could see that she gave “…all she had to live on.” This kind of generosity is to be applauded. Its like the generosity of the boy who gave a loaf of bread and two small fish to feed 5000 men (not including women and children). He gave all the food he had.
God loves outrageous generosity, and he loves a cheerful giver!
But we do need to be careful to ensure that generosity is genuine. Right before the passage in Luke 21:1-4, Jesus is scathing of the religious teachers for the way they “devour widow’s homes.” Even though there is a new chapter starting between these verses, I think the link between the widow’s devoured homes and the widow’s gift of everything she has was deliberate in scripture.
As I reflect on this passage, I am deeply moved. How can I be more generous, like the widow who gave out of all she had to live off. But then, how can I make sure that I am caring for the poor, the lost, the hungry and the needy around me, so that I am not devouring their homes to sustain my own standard of living?
Thank You lord for Your amazing generosity that You bless us with. Help me to use my riches, big or small, to worship and honour You and to bless others.
Written by Ps. Justin Ware