Widow's Mite

This message from Dr. Eggerich in a video conference of Love & Respect really moved me.  I hope I'm not stepping on any copyright or changing the impact if you go to a conference (which I strongly encourage you to do). I couldn't find a link to any site or video but I wanted to credit Dr. Eggerichs.

We may all be familiar with the Sunday School story from Mark 12:41-43 or Luke 21: 1-4.  But it was the context of the plot that Dr. Eggerics pointed out that overwhelmed me with the power of this story.  Jesus entered Jerusalem on a crescendo of public support for what they hoped would be political revolution, overthrowing the corrupt Romans and hypocritical religious elite that teamed up to opress them.  The people were thirsty for the justice of His message & cheered his entry to Jerusalem with Palm branches!  He entered the Temple & began teaching, criticizing the opression of the Romans and the hypocracy of the Jewish religous elite, but He didn't seem to be doing anything.

Many followers and members in the audience probably hoped for him to pick up the mantle of revolution that Barabbas and his followers had failed to succeed in.  But the longer he talked, he seemed to be asking them to change.  He didn't discourage them from paying burdensome taxes to a corrupt Roman regime (even when specifically set up by the sceming religious leaders) and instead began talking of the resurrection; another kingdom to come, and the support probably waned.  Like me, they were impatient for God's justice here and now; uwilling to change themselves.

Then, with all the public's attention focused on Him, Jesus stopped in the middle of the Temple, and focused like a lazer on the widow's donation of a mere pittance in comparison to the wealthy gifts of those around her.  What's more, the donation would go to an elite religous establishment he has been criticizing as hypocritical and greedy! It would probably just buy more jewelery for the Pharisees mistresses!  But Jesus ignored the effect (or lack therof) the sacrafice would have here in this earth, but instead focused on the widow's motivation and sacrafice: what it cost her and how it will change her, not the world around her.

That's what we can give; ourselves.  We can give our obedience. That's what Jesus wants in I Peter 3:4.  That's what it takes to be citizens of God's kingdom: our obedience in giving sacrafices that no one will notice that might go to what seems to us to be evil purposes here on this earth.  Because it's in the act of obediently sacraficing ourselves to whatever end we are commanded to; trusting God for our care.