A TINY GIFT
Do you ever take an inventory of your life to determine if you are giving too much or too little of your time, money or talents?
Have you ever felt that yours is only a tiny gift compared to what you’ve seen from others?
When we compare ourselves with others, it’s easy to feel like we are too much or too little. Comparing is a dangerous thing, because though we are all created in God’s image, we are individuals. Our incomes, talents and resources are different, and we are only expected to give according to our abilities. Some may give more and some less, but all are important.
One day Jesus was watching the people dropping money into the temple treasury. He said something interesting when a poor widow gave so much less than everyone else. I’m sure it surprised many of them who could only see the outward appearances.
Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins.
Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”
Mark 12:41-44
I wonder what those looking on would have thought when they saw how much more the others were giving compared to the widow’s tiny gift.
Would they have scoffed at her? Would we?
I wonder if some of the rich were feeling good about themselves, because they gave so much. Yet, what they gave wasn’t a sacrifice, because they had plenty. It wouldn’t have hurt them at all. The widow, on the other hand, gave her last two coins. Then Jesus said it was more than all the rest.
She made a sacrifice and Jesus noticed. He will notice our tiny gifts, too.
TINY GIFTS MULTIPLY
A tiny gift in our eyes might be a valuable one in the eyes of Jesus. Most of us don’t have tons of time or money or other resources, but we can share what we do have. We don’t have to have an abundance in order to give. We don’t need to have a fear of scarcity. God has promised to supply our needs.
Even when what we have is small, we can share with someone in need. What may seem like a tiny gift to us can be multiplied as we offer what we have to Jesus. He is building His kingdom, and we are privileged to work alongside Him, sharing His love as we go.
Then Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? How can I illustrate it? It is like a tiny mustard seed that a man planted in a garden; it grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make nests in its branches.”
He also asked, “What else is the Kingdom of God like? It is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”
Luke 13:18-21
When we show love or perform an act of kindness to someone, we are planting a seed. Maybe someone else will come along to “water” it, then someone else may give it tender care, until it blooms and drops more seeds, and the cycle continues. Or, like yeast permeates throughout the dough, our one kindness may be passed on to another and another…
Our one tiny gift may seem very small to us, but who knows how far reaching it may be when it’s in the hands of God!
This is Day 18 of #write28days. The prompt word is tiny.
God’s economy isn’t built on dollar values, is it? Love the encouragement and challenge to live generously.
I’m so glad God’s economy isn’t based on dollar values! Glad you were encouraged today. Blessings to you, Kym!
What a powerful reminder that our gifts should be from our heart and given with abandon instead of budgeting and accounting. The widow gave more than 10%. How often do I only give the minimum?
Yes, from our heart and with abandon! It’s great to be generous. Blessings to you, Anita! xo
Beautiful photos of tiny blossoms and berries! If we carefully tend those tiny plants in our gardens, then how much more tenderly does our Master Gardener watch over us, His own tiny plantings? Thank you Gayl for stirring such encouraging thoughts today. Blessings and love to you!
Oh, yes, how tenderly He cares for us! Thank you, Bettie, for always pointing us to the Lord, our Creator and Sustainer. Blessings and love right back to you! xoxo
Love this! I am so glad you pointed out seeds are tiny. Yet it is our job to plant seeds wherever we can. This is a tiny gift anyone can do!
Thank you, Jerralea! Yes, we can all plant the seeds – do what we can when and where we can. Blessings to you!