“…This poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.” – Mark 12:43-44
Giving money to the church has long been a sensitive topic. First of all, people are sensitive about their money. Second of all, the church has a history of financial abuse that cause people to be wary of giving money to it. Of course, the majority of churches have not engaged in such abuse, but all it takes is a few rotten eggs, as the phrase goes. Third, when one gives to a church, it’s hard not to want a voice in how that money is used. Yet, most churches receive the bulk of donations into a general operating account and a board determines how that money will be used, which again causes hesitation in some when it comes to writing a cheque or transferring an amount to the church.
Perhaps one of the most challenging tasks for a local pastor is to teach and preach on the subject of monetary giving. A common word used in most churches to describe such giving is a tithe (old school for a tenth). It refers originally to the bringing in of a tenth of what every Israelite produced with their work. That meant livestock, produce, crafted goods, and coins. Over the years, the Christian church in different ways adopted a tithing doctrine usually focused on the giving on 10% of one’s income (when money became the standard of wealth for society). This practice exists with different priorities from church to church into today.
For the modern-day pastor, talking about financial giving to the church sounds self-serving to some. Many pastors receive a salary from the very church they ask members to give to. Every time a new piece of audiovisual technology shows up in the sanctuary or a new addition to the Sunday school wing is built, people make private (and not-so-private) critiques of how the money was spent. So to preach about giving is a task that requires both courage and wisdom in many cases.
So, what could I say about giving in a short devo? I am reminded of the story of the widow who gave two copper coins to the temple treasury in Jerusalem. Jesus uses her particular generosity to make a point about giving that cuts to the heart of it all. “Out of her poverty, she put in all she owned.” This is not Jesus telling His disciples or the listening religious officials that all people are required to give all that they have. Rather, Jesus wants those listening to understand that giving is always a condition of the heart. If a person gives a lot but wants everyone to know that they gave a lot so that they will appear noble in front of others, that’s a heart condition. If a person gives some under duress or with a grumbling attitude, that also is a heart condition. And (as with the widow), one gives generously, faithfully, and cheerfully, that is the heart condition that Jesus is championing here.
At our church, we are not heavily bogged down with the ten percent rule as a doctrine of the church. I have said on one occasion that if giving means you have to write a cheque with gritted teeth or frustration, then please put your chequebook back in your pocket. The church’s needs ultimately are provided for by God. If that doesn’t come from the member’s giving, He will provide through some other means or He will show us how to live with scarcity.
Faithful, cheerful, and generous giving is spiritual development. We become mature in our faith when we learn to give with a heart like that of the widow.
Should a church avoid asking its members to give extra for some project they have coming up? Not necessarily. Asking people to give is not an inherently bad thing; but when the asking is rooted in a wrong heart (greed, fear, etc.), then leaders should get together and start praying for their faith to be strengthened.
Truly, truly, I say to you, give faithfully, cheerfully, and generously. God wants to develop you into the person you were always intended to be. That includes having the heart of the widow.