To give

And [Jesus] looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury. And He saw a certain poor widow putting in two small copper coins. And He said, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them; for they all out of their surplus put into the offering; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on." (NAS, Luke 21:1-4)

I can't say I've ever had a heart as generous and faithful as this widow. Out of her poverty she put in all that she had to live on. You must have so much faith to give what you cannot. I wonder what that actually looks like in today's world. It's a challenge to understand her mindset, to put myself in her shoes.

Too often do I forget to live with that eternal perspective.

"He who gives to the poor will never want, but he who shuts his eyes will have many curses." (NAS, Proverbs 28:27)

He who gives will never want. What beautiful freedom and contentment we can have in Christ! I think back to my time in Africa and other developing countries. How easy it was to feel content, joyful, and so very blessed everyday with the little that we had. It made it much easier to focus on the purposeful things of God that bring true fulfillment and meaning in life.


"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. (NIV, Matthew 6:1-2)

How valuable and rare is this sort of motivation! Culturally, I think Americans tend to be quite generous philanthropists. But we have plenty (much more than the rest of the world), and are too often praised for such acts of righteousness. If we are to give in return for the honor of men, better we not give at all.

So I do pray for a right heart that seeks to give and serve, so that I may bear much fruit--the fruit that glorifies God of course. John 15.

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I was in church this morning and found myself being critical--critical of the pastors and the service, questioning why I was there. I was so frustrated and struggled through most of the singing. But then God seriously spoke to me.

"Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment" (John 7:24).

"You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." (Matthew 7:5)

"Now receive the one who is weak in the faith, and do not have disputes over differing opinions. One person believes in eating everything, but the weak person eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not despise the one who does not, and the one who abstains must not judge the one who eats everything, for God has accepted him. Who are you to pass judgment on another’s servant? Before his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

One person regards one day holier than other days, and another regards them all alike. Each must be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day does it for the Lord. The one who eats, eats for the Lord because he gives thanks to God, and the one who abstains from eating abstains for the Lord, and he gives thanks to God. For none of us lives for himself and none dies for himself. If we live, we live for the Lord; if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For this reason Christ died and returned to life, so that he may be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

But you who eat vegetables only – why do you judge your brother or sister? And you who eat everything – why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will give praise to God.” Therefore, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Therefore we must not pass judgment on one another, but rather determine never to place an obstacle or a trap before a brother or sister. I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean in itself; still, it is unclean to the one who considers it unclean. For if your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy by your food someone for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let what you consider good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God does not consist of food and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. For the one who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by people.

So then, let us pursue what makes for peace and for building up one another. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. For although all things are clean, it is wrong to cause anyone to stumble by what you eat. It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything that causes your brother to stumble.

The faith you have, keep to yourself before God. Blessed is the one who does not judge himself by what he approves. But the man who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not do so from faith, and whatever is not from faith is sin." (Romans 14)