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She shuffled up the temple steps to the treasury where the offering boxes, shaped like inverted megaphones, gaped their open mouths to receive her offering. She didn’t have much to give. Two insignificant copper coins. Worth almost nothing by our standards today. But these two coins were all she had to live on and were, therefore, exceedingly valuable to her. They were the sum total of her worldly wealth. Without hesitating, she lifted her hand and relinquished her treasure into the temple box. There. She had given it all. A smile must have crept across her lips. Her heart swelled with a fullness that belied her empty purse. She turned and descended the steps to leave the temple. Jesus, immersed in His teaching saw the lavish nature of her gift. His eyes twinkled with pleasure at her sacrificial offering. As the poor widow made her way from the temple, Jesus’ eyes followed her. And He must have smiled too.
The Bible tells us that where your heart is there your treasure is also. Are you prepared to give it all up? What if your treasure is monetary? Surely there is more I can do with my money for God than giving it all up. God doesn’t need our money, He created it. What if your treasure is your spouse? You’ve finally got a good one and there is nothing you wouldn’t do for him/her. Would you give them up? Simply walk away? Jesus said that in order to follow Him we have to leave our husbands and wives, our mothers and fathers to walk with Him. So are we to live alone like priests and nuns? No, we are to let go of our petty control issues and give our spouses over to God. What if your treasure is your children? Surely God understands since He gave them to us. What could God do with our children? Aren’t we supposed to teach them? Sometimes we have to let God interfere instead of interfering with God. One of the most important things we can do is tell our children just how often we pray for them. Try telling them when you see them, “I’m praying for you.” Look at the reaction you get. So many times our children leave for school and think they are on their own for the day until they come back home to you. How differently they will behave if they are continually reassured that God is there for them too.
What about power and popularity? Is this your treasure? What other power is there? The kingdom of God is the most powerful force in the world and in heaven. Even the demons tremble, knowing and recognizing the power our God possesses. Would you rather have a small measure of power now or the most powerful force behind you for all eternity? I’ll take the latter. Why do you think there is so much opposition to Christianity? Every day there is someone dying for their faith in Jesus Christ. That’s power!! Examine what is important to you. When you have found what you think is the one thing that is most important to you, give it up to God. If it’s your money, give what is in your wallet today to God. Let Him direct your finances. If it is your marriage, let God become the center of it. Ask Him to be the spouse that you deserve. Ask Him to do a work in your marriage to create the marriage He desires for you. If it’s your children, tell them you pray for them often and really do it! Let them see that you’ve asked God to come along side them so they are not alone during the day. Remember, store up treasure in Heaven where moth and rust cannot destroy.
*Picture available at Art.com
