When All You’ve Got Are Copper Coins
While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.” As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” 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.”
Luke 20:45-21:4
Our passage from Luke this week is a tribute from Jesus to the widow who gave out of her poverty. The two copper coins she dropped into the offering were precious to Him because she had so little to give. She had no idea she would be an example for us, but her deed has been recited to us ever since and with it the admonition, “What little do you have? Give it.”
What’s the last thing you offered to God? Maybe your mind automatically goes to the online transfer you made from your checking account last Sunday when you were reminded that the church has a budget that needs our regular help.
But what’s the last thing OTHER than money that you offered to God?
You wake, and you offer your first breath, your first thought, your first word to the Father. A simple good morning. This offering of awareness is precious to Him.
You sit up, open the book beside your bed, let your first minutes be filled with scripture. This offering of time, it’s precious to Him.
You head to the kitchen, whisper “thank you” for the coffee, for the bagel. Psalm 116 tells us this too is an offering.
You drive children to school, face the traffic, offering an attempt at patience.
You flip on the playlist that brings your heart forward in song—you can’t help yourself—worship bubbles out—an offering.
You use your time faithfully at work, serving your boss, serving the customers, despite the moments of boredom, despite the feeling of being unappreciated. God loves this offering.
You chase the toddler, cradle the baby, offer your exhausted body to the little ones that need you and the Father who sustains you.
You bend your mind toward the book, the essay, the flashcards. He has made you to learn, and your offering is obedient study.
You hold the hand of a friend who’s just received a diagnosis to pray for more time.
You drive a meal to a new mom, gift a coat to the man on the corner, mow the lawn of an elderly neighbor.
You give three minutes at three o’clock to pray for three lost friends.
You choose to spend your evening with someone lonely instead of spacing out in front of Netflix.
You choose not to have the second drink.
You choose not to write the angry email. Not to get on Facebook and rant.
You choose to forgive.
You slip under the covers and confess the wrongs of your day. He accepts the offering of your humility with mercy and grace.
Sometimes we aren’t even aware of the sacrifices. But they were moments we gave something away, maybe something small, but something tangible and real and lovely to the Father.
Keep it up, Christian. Reach into your pockets and pull out those precious “copper coins.” You don’t have to be rich to give something pleasing to God. You don’t have to make long, showy prayers or travel to a foreign country as a missionary. Daily life presents us with thousands of opportunities to make small sacrifices that really, truly matter.
Turns out you have so much to give.
