Trust
Day 544, Friday, Feb. 6
Mark 12:18 – 13:37
One of the advantages of readings whole books of the Bible all the way through is seeing where different passages are place in relation to each other. Sometimes this helps us understand their significance.
In yesterday’s reading we came across several stories touching on money: the clearing of the temple court, the parable of the tenants and paying taxes to Caesar. Today we have another lesson about money: the gift of the poor widow.
Jesus calls the attention of his disciples to people making offerings at the temple. Many rich people put in large amounts, but his focus is on a poor widow who puts in two small coins worth only pennies.
“Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.’”
We usually look at this story in relation to giving to the church, though it is relavant to all giving we are motivated by our faith to do. Often our focus in not on the giving, but on the receiving—we look at the needs of the church, or the needs of people who are helped by the giving. By that measure, the amount given matters a lot.
But Jesus turns that around and looks at the giving rather than the receiving. This woman’s giving isn’t just a transfer of resources; it’s an expression of trust.
Like in the Old Testament when people were told to give the first fruits of their work, trusting that God would continue to provide, this woman is blessed because of the trust she shows that God will provide for her needs in spite of her generous gift.
As in the story of the rich young ruler in Luke 18, it is the giver’s willingness to trust God rather than money that makes the giving valuable.

-Rev. Mark Fleming

Friday meditation

Psalms 74:12-23
But God is my King from long ago; he brings salvation on the earth.
It was you who split open the sea by your power; you broke the heads of the monster in the waters. It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert. It was you who opened up springs and streams; you dried up the ever-flowing rivers. The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon. It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter.
Remember how the enemy has mocked you, Lord, how foolish people have reviled your name. Do not hand over the life of your dove to wild beasts; do not forget the lives of your afflicted people forever. Have regard for your covenant, because haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land. Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace; may the poor and needy praise your name. Rise up, O God, and defend your cause; remember how fools mock you all day long. Do not ignore the clamor of your adversaries, the uproar of your enemies, which rises continually.

Prayer focus
God, grant us the faith to trust more in you than in wealth.