Widow with Two Coins
She made her way up the temple steps, staring at the last two coins in her hand. Not much at all, she thought.
Fingering her meager offering, she found a spot in the corner of the temple, out of the way. For a few minutes, she stood and watched. She watched the rich, the young, the "important people" pass by. Many dropped large amounts of money in the box.
What must their lives be like? She wondered in silence.
The last few years of her life were a burdensome blur because of the financial struggle she had suffered since her husband's death. With no family to support her, on some days she paused when she thought of the future. But not today. Today, her heart was full. Today, she wanted to give. Glancing down again at the only money she could call hers, she wondered if her pitiful offering would make a difference. And yet she knew God's eyes were on her. Her choice was to simply obey. Standing erect, she made her way past the crowd to the offering box.
The widow was not the only person people-watching in the temple. Close by, Jesus noticed the esteemed people in the court. His disciples saw only people, but His eyes saw life histories. He saw leaders and followers, husbands and wives, fathers and sons. Outwardly, many of them appeared successful and respectable, but His eyes could see through their disguises and He knew what their lives were like.
As the sound of the two copper coins resonated, Jesus looked up and saw the widow. He saw much more than a meager sacrifice. He saw abandoned dreams and withered hopes, and as He watched her fall to her knees and whisper a prayer to Jehovah Jireh, her Provider, Jesus seized the moment.
Earlier, with everybody listening, He had warned his disciples to watch out for religious scholars who took lavish pleasure in prominent positions and wanted to sit at the head of the table at church functions, all the while ignoring the weak and less fortunate. "The longer their prayers, the worse they get. But they'll pay for it in the end," Jesus said.
Now, with his eyes fixed on the praying woman, Jesus continued to teach. "The plain truth is that this woman, this poor widow, has given by far the largest offering today. All these others gave offerings that they'll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn't afford-she gave her all."
A settled peace surrounded the woman in the midst of her quiet celebration, and as she stood to leave the temple, she felt safe, secure, and free! She brought everything she had and left with everything she needed. God was in control and He was her source.
And whether she realized it or not-the mighty Son of God saw and was moved by her total dependence on Him. *
May is the month when generally all eyes are on "Mom." From banquets and teas to homemade banana and peanut butter sandwiches, dads and kids will salute us, wait on us, and shower us with kisses and hugs. Do you ever wonder what the Lord sees when He watches you?
On more than one occasion if you're like me, He as seen you in moments of fatigue, fear of the future, paralyzed by "what now" moments. But He also sees you when you wash the laundry, dry your three-year-old's tears, pray with a hurting friend, and show others acts of kindness without asking anything in return.
May this year be a year to live more of those "best moments" where just like the widow in the temple we give unselfishly, triumph over tragedy, and turn heartbreak into joy!
*Excerpt from Book 4 Unlimited Bible Studies for Today's Pentecostal Woman, Gospel Publishing House