The Widow With the Two Coins

 

There is a widow in the Bible who is given just a little space, but in spite of what we don't know about her, there are lessons we can learn from her story and I want to concentrate on just one here.  Mark, in the 12th chapter, tells us that Jesus was watching the crowds as they put their offerings in the temple treasury.  Many were rich, but along came a poor widow who put in two very small coins. Jesus called this to the attention of his disciples and told them that this widow had put more into the treasury than all the others. The former gave out of their riches; she out of her poverty.

A widow in ancient Palestine was in a very vulnerable financial condition.  Most widows had no legal standing and no resources of their own.  If her husband died leaving her without sons to run the business or family farm, her land was put into the trust of someone else to run it for her. Jesus comments on the poor widow after describing the Scribes, the legal scholars and experts on the Scriptures, as those who "shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious...: (Mark 12:40) The implication of this is that the Scribes were using their status as experts of the law to defraud the widows out of their property.  They were supposed to protect this widow, but in fact had left her with only two small coins to live on, for how long we don't know.  It was a totally unjust system in which the poorest and most vulnerable were being exploited by the rich and powerful.  Jesus made note of this.

This should serve as a reminder to you that you are never out of the sight, heart, love, and care of your heavenly Father.  God is the same yesterday, today and forever.  Today the widow who is managing on her own, even though there are more protections for her now than then, is still vulnerable to unscrupulous and devious people who prey on her vulnerabilities to defraud her of what is rightfully hers.  Jesus' sharp warnings to those who so treat widows is as valid today as the time in which it was first spoken.  And there are many such warnings in both the Old and New Testaments.

I would love to know more about this woman, and I'm glad that Jesus lifted the veil covering her life just a little and let us catch a tiny glimpse into her life.  Jesus let us know by this story of His great love and concern for the vulnerable among us.  Anyone who defrauds you or tries to take advantage of you in any manner is going to answer to the highest authority.  Thank the Lord for his ever watchful love and concern for you, and live with the peace that only our loving heavenly Father can give!

Shari Hervold

Lessons from the Life and Death of Dorcas

 

 

The story of Dorcas is recorded in Acts 9: 36-42. Dorcas was a Jewish woman, living in the seaport city of Joppa, who had come to faith in Christ, most likely through the ministry of Peter or one of his associates. She was a talented seamstress who saw the opportunity to use her talent in blessing others.  She chose the needy, the orphans, and widows, all who were marginalized by their culture, to be the recipients of her handiwork. Her generosity with her time and talents earned her the love and devotion of the entire church community, but especially among the widows.

Yet, in spite of her loving generosity, she became very ill and died. She left a large group of people who were grief stricken, especially the widows whose lives she had personally touched with her generosity. And so, after preparing her body for burial and laying it out, they sent for the Apostle Peter who was ministering nearby to come immediately, as they most likely had heard how his prayers had resulted in the healing of a paralyzed man just days before.

Peter came and found a grief stricken group of widows who showed him many articles that Dorcas had lovingly stitched for them.  So, after sending them out of the room, with a heart full of faith in his resurrected Lord, Peter commanded Dorcas to get up - and she did. He then led her out where tears of grief quickly turned to tears of joy and shouts of praise.

Dotti Ackerman, founder of FNF, has recently undergone surgery and stated to me that the prayers of godly women ministered to her so much. While she is recovering nicely, her healing has not been instantaneous as was Dorcas's. But, she feels that God is teaching her lessons in the process. One of those lessons is patience. Dotti's stroke left her with a word retrieval difficulty and often others would just blurt out the word for her, leaving her frustrated. She is regaining that ability, but she has gained a new respect for others who suffer from the same disability. To listen carefully requires patience and Dotti relates that she is gaining patience through the process.

God's timing for healing is His and His alone. But, there is great comfort in our joining in prayer for each other in times of need.  And it's also important to solicit the prayers of men and women of God to join us in prayer. Regardless of our talents and gifts, we can all pray and that really is the greatest resource we have anyway.

By Shari Hervold

Bible Widow - A Widow’s Gift

 

 

A Widow’s Gift

 

  While Jesus was teaching in the temple, people were coming and going. He went over by the box where offerings were put. He picked this place to teach because He knew on that day, a very precious lady would come in with her last two pieces of money.  She had two mites. These were worth hardly anything but it was all she had. She did not know that Jesus knew about her.  Because she had so much love for God and trust in Him, she was going to give her last two mites and go hungry. She was so thankful for the comfort God had given her since her husband died. She had to give something. Waiting in the shadows, embarrassed that her offering was so small, she hoped for a chance to put her little coin in the offering box.  She planned to wait till the rich people were done pouring in their big offerings. Quietly, shyly, she watched for her chance. Jesus turned His head so she thought He was not looking. Quietly the KING OF THE UNIVERSE let His shy little widow woman think no one saw her give to HIM. Inside His heart, Jesus was thrilled at her attitude of gratitude even when she was so poor. He could hardly keep quiet.

  He pretended not to notice her, but this KING OF THE UNIVERSE was adoring HIS daughter the widow lady, as he was teaching. Out of the corner of His eye He watches her silently work her way over to the box, looking this way and that. Hoping no one would see her give just two mites.

   As she places her coins in the box, something happens in the heart of Jesus. What He did next had the effect of a huge pile of money hitting the floor. You know how everyone looks if you drop 50 to 100 big coins on the floor? It was just like that. Everyone was looking. Jesus, the KING of the universe, told everyone to look. She was caught! There was no hiding now.
 
At first she was so embarrassed. Then, as she heard the blessing from the Master's lips, tears flooded her eyes. There must be some mistake. She did not give more than the rich people, yet He said she had. Jesus began to explain that the rich people gave so much money but they still had lots of money left to get everything they needed. They had not given the same way she had. He told the crowd it did not take any faith for them to give so much because they were living in comfortable homes, full of food, and had more money coming.

  Her gift was different. Her husband was dead. She had no more money and no more coming. She had given the money she really needed to buy food with. She was going to be hungry. She had to trust that God would take care of clothing, food, and housing. Her gift showed she was very, very thankful and knew God could get her anything she needed. Their gifts showed they wanted praise from others. They also showed they were not really thankful for what they had.

  Her example has caused many people to give more out of a heart of love and trust just like the little widow lady. In this way her gift has grown to many billions of dollars. That's how she gave more than all the rich people's gifts added together.

Jesus was so proud of her! He not only blessed her on that day but for the rest of her life. We do not know her name but her story has been told for over a thousand years. She has taught us how Jesus delights in unselfish giving till it hurts.

Jesus said to give with joy, thankfulness, trust, and love. He will make sure you always have enough to be able to eat and extra so you can give more.

By Pastor Bruce Sofia