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Everything she had.

I want to write about something that came to mind the other day.  A story from the Bible about a woman.  I don't know how old she was or much else about her except that she was a widow and that she was poor.
Jesus was sitting in the temple watching people come and put money into the offering box.  This woman came and put two small coins (both of them TOGETHER equaled a penny) into the offering.
Jesus called His disciples over to Him as He saw it and said,
"Truly I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box.  For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."           Mark 12:41-44

And my heart is sort of broken over this, in a good way.

The widow probably never knew that Jesus (or anybody else) noticed the sacrifice she was giving.  She probably wasn't blessed with overwhelming wealth after she gave the two small coins either (contrary to what the prosperity gospel may try to say). 
My guess is that she probably died poor and maybe alone (in regards to people).  It doesn't really seem fair.  It seems like a sad story.  But that's not the end of it.  Sometimes amazing stories have sad parts. 
When she died and was freed of the law of sin and death, she figured out that Jesus did notice her giving those two coins that day.  And even if she didn't get any kind of reward for it on earth (which she probably didn't), her reward in heaven was great.  Because the Lord doesn't look at the outward appearance like man does.  He looks at the heart.  That fact should either be comforting or terrifying.  It wasn't the fact that she gave money that touched His heart, it was that she gave everything she had.

Maybe for me it's not money.  But the equation is always the same: do I give everything I have to God or do I look out for myself?
Sometimes it's emotions- when I'm numb, feeling a lot, or feeling a little- Jesus wants them all.
Sometimes it is money- whether I'm broke or richer than Minus-He wants everything I have to be His.
Sometimes it's time- whether my schedule is swamped or I don't know what to do with all the time- He wants the best (and worst) of my time.
Sometimes it's relationships- whether they're going great or I just got my heart shattered- He wants all of my heart (broken or not).

There is a verse strung through the whole Bible and quoted in a lot of different places:
"Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength."
 
Anything less than that just doesn't cut it.  Anything less than that is just giving out of abundance.  Anything less than that is not everything I have to give. 

It's very much in my personality to be closed.  But this is an invitation to not only open my heart up but to take what's inside and give all that I have to give, to Jesus.  I know He'll take care of me and I know that one day I'll see that it was worth giving everything I have.



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