Richard and Lindsay Roberts
Richard: One day, when Jesus was in the Temple, He sat down in an area that was called the “treasury” and He watched how the people gave. The treasury was an area where large vase-like containers were kept, and the people would come and put their money – their tithes and offering – into the containers as they went in and out of the Temple to pray. One of the people that came that day was a poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which was just a few pennies in terms of our money today.
Jesus called for His disciples to observe her and He said, “Verily [truly] I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living” (Mark 12:43–44).
Lindsay: I looked up the word “want” in the Greek dictionary and found it actually means “to fall short.” This woman gave out of her shortfall. She was a woman who had financial need. When her bills came due, she fell short. Like many, she had too much month left at the end of her money.
Richard: Nevertheless, she gave out of her shortfall. She gave ALL she had left.
Why? Because she was trusting God to make up the difference in her life! She was expecting God to fill the gap between what she had and what she needed. And it was that kind of giving that caught Jesus’ eye.
Is there a gap in your life today between what you need and what you have? Trust God to fill the gap. Plant a seed out of what you “don’t have” in order to receive what you “need to have”!