Bible Society of South Africa
Neville Turley

Preserved in Jesus Christ – Day 4

They Gave What They Could – Part I

Bible text(s)

Luke 6

38Give to others, and God will give to you. Indeed, you will receive a full measure, a generous helping, poured into your hands — all that you can hold. The measure you use for others is the one that God will use for you.”

Mark 12

The Widow's Offering

41As Jesus sat near the temple treasury, he watched the people as they dropped in their money. Many rich men dropped in a lot of money; 42then a poor widow came along and dropped in two little copper coins, worth about a penny. 43He called his disciples together and said to them, “I tell you that this poor widow put more in the offering box than all the others. 44For the others put in what they had to spare of their riches; but she, poor as she is, put in all she had — she gave all she had to live on.”

Mark 12:41-44GNBOpen in Bible reader

Deuteronomy 16

16“All the men of your nation are to come to worship the LORD three times a year at the one place of worship: at Passover, Harvest Festival, and the Festival of Shelters. Each man is to bring a gift 17as he is able, in proportion to the blessings that the LORD your God has given him.

Deuteronomy 16:16-17GNBOpen in Bible reader

The Gospels tell a striking story of a widow who gave all she could. You can find it in Mark 12:41-44 and in Luke 21:1-4.

Jesus was at the temple treasury and he saw many rich men dropping in their money. Then, along came a poor widow who dropped in two little coins.

Jesus was moved by her gesture. He called his disciples together and said to them, “I tell you that this poor widow put more in the offering box than all the others. For the others put in what they had to spare of their riches; but she, poor as she is, put in all she had – she gave all she had to live on.” Mark 12:43-44 (GNB)

Being poor is no excuse for not giving. In Deuteronomy 16:16-17, all men are instructed to come to worship the Lord three times a year at one place of worship. “Each man is to bring a gift as he is able, in proportion to the blessings that the Lord your God has given him.”

During these difficult times, many of us can truthfully say; I am struggling, I cannot do much. However, that is no excuse for doing nothing at all. The miracle of the feeding of the five thousand (John 6:1-14) was made possible by one boy, in that dense crowd, who gave all he had – five barley loaves and two small fish. He gave all that he had and no one can do more than that.

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