“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.”

Mark 12:43-44

What Does the Bible Say About Giving and Saving?

Mark 12:41-44 mentions a widow who gave only two small copper coins as her offering. While others were putting in larger amounts, Jesus commended her for the quality of her offering. Others were giving out of their wealth, but she was generously giving with a heart of faith. Two cents was everything she had that day. Let us not forget that Jesus still sees the treasury. He knows how much, and from what motives, men give to his cause. He looks at the heart, and what our views are, in giving alms; and whether we do it as unto the Lord, or only to be seen of men. –Bible Hub

Jesus sets a high bar when it comes to our financial responsibility. He calls us not only to give but also to give with a generous spirit. Yet what He gives us is not a financial burden; it is an opportunity—a chance to demonstrate a mature, active, and difference-making faith. As the devastated rich young ruler discovered in Mark 10:17–22, a person’s attitude toward money and possessions reveals more about him or her than perhaps the person cares to know. For one thing, giving generously demonstrates proper gratitude to God. When we give, we acknowledge what has been given to us. We give to others from the bounty of God’s blessings in our life. Generosity is an outflow of our celebration of God’s goodness.

“That humility and devotion.” which God esteems is not that which you proudly present, but what you offer with humility and devotion.

St. Ambrose

Our giving also demonstrates a proper attitude toward God. In Matthew 6:1–4, Jesus instructs us to give with as little fanfare as possible. In fact, our generosity should be so low-key that our left hand doesn’t know what our right hand is doing. That prevents us from wrongly receiving credit for God’s work. It also focuses people’s attention on Him. If God doesn’t receive all the glory for our giving, we’re doing something wrong. That presents a very real challenge in our social-media-obsessed society, where news of generous acts routinely goes viral.

Our giving also reveals a heart for others. In order for us to give as God instructs us to do, we must be aware of others’ needs—the needs of the church, the needs of various ministries, the needs of friends and acquaintances who are experiencing difficulties, the needs of people in our community. The more we search for ways to give generously, the more we become aware of people’s needs.

Generous giving is a key element of discipleship because it acknowledges that we trust God to supply our needs. As mentioned in Mark 12:41–44, Jesus staked out the temple treasury, where people came to make their offerings. He watched several ostentatious givers loudly announce their gifts by tossing handfuls of bronze coins into the trumpet bell that served as a collection device. Yet the only offering that truly moved Him came from a widow who quietly offered two mites—coins that had very little value to anyone but her. That’s because they were all she had. The faithfulness, obedience, and trust of her offering made it priceless in God’s eyes. And if we give with the same spirit, our gifts will accomplish much.

Today, I encourage you to surrender your little bits to Him. Whether it is two percent, two fish, or just two seconds — He wants to multiply it so that others will see His glory and know that He is the Almighty and omnipotent God who can do the unthinkable with your life. He is still the same God who can make a miracle out of our nothings.

God does not despise the humblest offering, if made in sincerity. He loves a cheerful giver.

Bible Hub