The story of the widow’s mite is found in Mark 12:41-44 and Luke 21:1-4. In this passage, Jesus observes a poor widow putting two small copper coins into the temple treasury. He then tells his disciples that this widow has put in more than all those who were contributing out of their wealth, because while they gave out of their abundance, she gave out of her poverty everything she had to live on.
There are several important lessons we can learn from Jesus’ words about the widow’s offering:
Giving sacrificially
Jesus commends the widow for giving not just a portion of her money, but everything she had. While the rich were giving large sums, it cost them little compared to their overall wealth. But the widow, in her poverty, surrendered completely in her offering. As Jesus said, she “put in everything she had, all she had to live on” (Mark 12:44). Her gift involved great personal sacrifice.
This teaches us that the Lord looks at the heart behind our giving. It’s not the monetary amount that impresses God, but the willingness to give sacrificially and trust Him to provide what we need. As David said, “I will not offer to the Lord my God sacrifices that cost me nothing” (2 Samuel 24:24).
Trusting God’s provision
The widow gave everything she had because she trusted God would take care of her needs. Despite her poverty, she did not hold back but generously contributed all her living money to God’s work. She understood that she could never out-give God. As King David wrote, “My God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
In the same way, when we give cheerfully and sacrificially to God’s kingdom work, we can trust Him to provide for us. As we seek first His kingdom, He promises to supply all that we need (Matthew 6:33). The size of our gift is less important than the willingness to give in dependence on God.
Wholehearted devotion
While others were giving token donations, the widow brought her entire livelihood. This illustrates complete and wholehearted devotion to God. She did not just give God a portion of her money – she laid everything at His feet. Her offering expressed her love, worship, and desire to honor God above all else.
In the same way, God calls us to wholehearted devotion. We are not to hold anything back from Him, but to offer our entire selves – our time, talents, and treasures (Romans 12:1). Our giving is an act of worship and a testament to His rightful place on the throne of our hearts.
God values sincerity above amount
The monetary value of the widow’s two coins was tiny compared to the large donations of the wealthy. But Jesus said her small gift was worth more than all the others. Why? Because the others gave out of their excess, but she gave out of the substance she needed to live on. It represented a much more sincere and sacrificial gift.
This shows that our giving is not measured by God in dollar amounts, but in the spirit and motivation of our hearts. The size of the gift does not matter; what matters is the willingness to give generously out of our lack. God sees our hearts behind the amount we give (1 Samuel 16:7).
Setting an example of giving
Jesus deliberately drew attention to the widow’s sacrificial offering as an example for his disciples to follow. Her humble and generous gift out of her poverty was in sharp contrast to the showy donations of the rich. While they gave out of surplus income, she gave out of a deep spirit of worship and sacrifice.
In the midst of people giving large amounts for show, the widow’s modest offering spoke volumes about her character. Jesus uplifted her as an example for all of us to imitate – giving generously in ways that honor God, not draw attention to ourselves.
Prioritizing the work of God
The context of this story is Jesus critiquing the corrupt religious leaders and foretelling the destruction of the temple (Mark 13:1-2). Despite the failures of religious institutions, this widow’s offering shows that she treasured the work of God above all else.
Rather than being bitter or apathetic, she gave everything she had to support God’s work in the temple. This illustrates her devotion to God’s glory and Kingdom above all else. Though imperfect men led the temple, she wanted to honor God’s name and purposes there.
This challenges us to financially support God’s work, even when imperfect people are involved. We give to further His Kingdom purposes in our communities, not the merits of institutions or people (2 Corinthians 9:7-8).
Generosity brings blessing
Though the widow gave away her entire livelihood, Jesus indicates that she received back far more than she gave. He said she “put in more than all the others” (Mark 12:43). Her sincere and sacrificial gift placed her above everyone else that day.
When we give generously as the widow did, Jesus takes notice. He sees our heartfelt gifts and promises reward and blessing to those who give cheerfully and sacrificially (Luke 6:38, 2 Corinthians 9:6). We reap spiritual blessings far beyond what we sow.
Focusing on eternal rewards
The religious leaders gave large gifts to draw praise from others about their generosity and spirituality. But this widow quietly gave all she had without any fanfare. Her motivation was not earthly recognition but storing up treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:3-4).
Jesus wants us to give with eternal values in mind. Our giving should be motivated by desire for heavenly reward and worship of God above all else (Matthew 6:19-21). When we give generously as the widow did, it shows that our heart is focused on eternity.
Serving God above money
The widow’s two coins represented her entire livelihood. She chose to give that to God rather than spend it on herself. This shows that she valued loving God and furthering His work above her own needs and desires.
As Jesus said, we cannot serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24). God calls us to seek first His kingdom in how we steward all resources He gives, including money (Matthew 6:33). Like this widow, we are to treat money as a tool to serve God, not our master.
Responding despite hard circumstances
This woman was extremely poor, lacking basic needs. It would have been understandable for her to hold onto these last two coins tightly. Yet despite her difficult situation, she gave generously. Her worship and thanksgiving to God outweighed her fears.
This challenges us to give gratefully to God even in difficult circumstances. Hard times should increase our dependence on God and motivate us to worship Him through sacrificial offerings. As Paul wrote, true giving comes “in the midst of a very severe trial” and “extreme poverty” (2 Corinthians 8:2).
Humbling the proud through giving
The religious leaders enjoyed flaunting their large donations. They saw their giving as a badge of honor. Yet Jesus pointed out this poor widow who quietly gave all she had as the greater example. In contrast to the proud leaders, she humbly worshipped God.
Our giving should never be about pride in amounts or trying to impress others. As in this passage, God often uses the humble and poor to shame the rich and proud (1 Corinthians 1:26-29). We are to give quietly as worship, not to gain praise from people.
In summary, Jesus upheld the widow’s sacrificial offering as a model for all believers to emulate. Though small in amount, her gift demonstrated sincere devotion, trust, eternal focus, and humility. She prioritized honoring God above all else. The Lord sees and values this kind of wholehearted generosity, not gifts from our surplus. These lessons challenge us to evaluate and adjust our own giving based on the motivation of our hearts.