Everything

Mark 10:21 (NIV)

21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."    

Mark 12:41-44 (NIV)
41 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. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.  43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on."

Father, it seems to me that this rich young man and poor widow had nothing in common, yet in reality they had something very important in common. Each had an everything. Though there everything differed in amount it did not differ in percentage. For the rich young ruler his everything was an obstacle to keep him from you, for the poor widow her everything was an opportunity to express her faith love and devotion to you.

 Father, what strikes me about the widow is that she did not give with pretense or presumption. She simply gave out of her heart. She understood and appreciated her relationship with you and her love for you withheld nothing and gave everything.

Father to give everything is supremely defined and expressed in Mark 12:30 (NIV): “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”  

Thank you Father for the humility of this poor widow who's example of giving everything shows the richness of her faith in you. Through Jesus and in his name we pray. Amen.

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