Do We Give Our All?

hldude

Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2008
Messages
622
Reaction score
497
YouTube Channel Video Devo

“Do We Give Our All?
Mark 12:41-44 NIV
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

Recently, for our family devotion time, we read this passage about the widow giving all that she had. I have read this story numerous times in the past and am reminded of how powerful of a message it is showing us that giving our all in life is so important. I’m reminded of how crucial it is for us to truly give our all in every single thing we do in life. So often it’s easy for us to just give minimal in our efforts to various commitments.

I think about the religious leaders and other rich people who felt a sense of pride for throwing large amounts into the offering. I’m sure they had a puffed up ego feeling all good about their so-called generosity. However, the widow is amazing not only because she gave the least amount, but also that she gave everything she had and ended up giving more than them!

This makes me consider how often I honestly put in 100% effort into the things I do each day and how much I commit to my relationship with God, my family, church and friendships that I have. When I consider the widow, I often wonder how God wants me to give more in certain situations.

Guess who else gave their all? There’s many other examples in Scripture, but the best example every is Jesus Christ Himself. He literally gave it all. Just like the hymn, “Jesus Paid It All”. No one in history could ever give what Jesus did. Jesus gave His life to give us life.

I think we all need to start asking ourselves each day, “Do we give our all in our relationship with God, in our family, in our church, and other relationships?” In our commitments, where are we failing to give our all? Others are busting their tails often to help us and to provide for their families, so we definitely need to make sure we are giving our best effort in everything we do.

Like the widow, do we find ourselves giving our all and being as humble as possible or do we just give a little and feel prideful for at least giving something? We need to ditch the pride and take a good lesson from not only the widow, but Jesus Himself.
 
Thank you for this as it really makes me think of my own giving that I could be doing more than I am. Not so much monetarily, but giving me in helps.
 
Thank you for this as it really makes me think of my own giving that I could be doing more than I am. Not so much monetarily, but giving me in helps.

This would be my thought as well. How much of our time are we giving to Him? Because the commandment is to love the Lord with our whole heart, mind, soul and strength. :thm
 
This section in the gospel often reminds me to think of the importance of context of other people's actions, of understanding who and where they are. Things we might think are easy, or even do unconsciously, may be a real labor for others, and we should appreciate that someone whose help you might not even notice at first is doing everything they are capable of. We have a man in our church who has a physical disability that virtually immobilizes him, but he's always the first one to volunteer to do anything he can, and I've never heard him complain about a thing. Our pastor certainly recognizes it, he thinks this old guy is the Bee's Knees.
 
This section in the gospel often reminds me to think of the importance of context of other people's actions, of understanding who and where they are. Things we might think are easy, or even do unconsciously, may be a real labor for others, and we should appreciate that someone whose help you might not even notice at first is doing everything they are capable of. We have a man in our church who has a physical disability that virtually immobilizes him, but he's always the first one to volunteer to do anything he can, and I've never heard him complain about a thing. Our pastor certainly recognizes it, he thinks this old guy is the Bee's Knees.

Yes. :thm There is a scripture that says God looks upon the heart, and that does not just apply to matters involving salvation. It applies to what a person's motivations are in serving God, and to what extent they truly love Him and others. Without it, all our works and accomplishments are but a clanging cymbal. With it, the most insignificant deeds in the eyes of others can carry tremendous weight in the eyes of God.
 
Back
Top