Luke 21:1-4
The Widow's offering
>v.1-2) As the rich were putting their gifts into the offering box the Bible says "and He [Jesus] saw a (1)poor widow put in (2)two small copper coings."
(1) When it says "widow" it means a severly improverished woman, devoid of a husband -- that is to say her lively hood. Women were almost entirely dependent upon their husbands at this time. There are some exceptions but for the most part, that is how it was. We should not read this and understand it as widow's of today. Widow's in contemporary culture American can survive, thrive and live. They have a sense of independence that the widow's of 1st century Roman culture did not have.
So when reading this we should always place this widow within in her context. She was a lady who was in bad, bad shape. She was the lowest of the lows in her society. Widows were nearly outcasts, aside from the fact that they could live within society but they only functioned as a wart. Pretty much an annoying person. The Bible speaks very, very strongly about widows and about how Christians should help them (James 1:27, various other NT passages 1 Timothy 5 and OT Law).
(2) The copper coins were 1/128 of denarius which was a days worth of payment during that time. She had 2. So she had 2/128th's worth of money on her.
V.3-4) "Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on." [Jesus speaking]
What do we see this widow doing? Especailly knowing her socio-economic status? She's giving her living to God! Everything that is her's she's giving it away! Even though life was tough, hard and hellacious on her, we don't see her begrudged at God but trusting God! She is entrusting God with her living and dying. She's not holding back anything but giving it all up. She was faithful to the Lord despite her terrible circumstances. She never gave up or surrendered despite all the hardship she had faced in her life time! What a remarkable lady who understood real sacrifice!
Are you like this widow? Do you entrust your living and dying unto God? We like to say "alright God its time to live -- so bring on a happy time!" But can you be like this widow who would say with Job "Even though He slay me, I will hope in Him (Job 13:15)." She entrusted God with her dying. She understood something we don't alot of time. The Psalmist David describes it: "I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging bread." God takes care of His children, those who are called according to His purposes. That doesn't mean that He fattens them up and makes them healthy, wealthy and prosporous. That just means "he has your back."
Are you faithful to God despite tough, hard and hellacious circumstances? People's biggest problem with God is why He allows us to suffer and see hardship. I struggle with the same question, often. I believe the best answer to that is TRUST. You have to trust the Lord that He is doing/allowing this to happen for a reason (Romans 5, James 1). Suffering brings sustence to our lives (According to those passages last listed and various others). A "realness" about us. We (Christians) are real people struggling with real things, just like the rest of the world. John Piper said it best like this (paraphase): "Does Jesus look beautiful when you say you drive a BMW? That does not make Jesus look beautiful. I'll tell you what makes Jesus look beautiful: its when you smash your car and your daughter is lying dead on the pavement and you say through the deepest possible pain -- 'God is enough. He is good. He will take care of us, He will get us through this.'"
Final thought: Is God enough for you? > Can you testify with the widow that God is enough?
Check it: Psalm 73:23-26
Foot notes:
1) Stein, Robert H. Vol. 24, Luke. electronic ed. Logos Library System; The New American
Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001.
2)ESV Study Bible
Oh I just noticed something. It was 1st century Jewish culture. Even though Isreal (Judea) was part of the Roman Empire, there is a difference between 1st century Roman culture and 1st century Jewish culture.
ReplyDeleteBrandon, this is a good post. I agree with you - suffering does bring validity to our stories. Who wants to take advice from someone who has always had a perfect life? In those seasons it is so easy to only be focused on the "right now" and to feel like things will never get better. Like you said, we have to trust even when things don't make sense.
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