Friday, January 4 (17), 2002
1Pet. 4:12-5:5; Mk. 12:38-44                                                

 The widow dropped just two mites (which is a tiny sum) into the Temple treasury box, and the Lord said that she had given more than anyone else, though others donated hefty amounts of money [Mk. 12:41-44].  What, then, did ascribe so much value to her contribution?  It was the disposition of her heart.

See the difference between cold, lifeless, customary “doing good for good’s sake” and a full-hearted sacrifice?  It is not the external factors which have made it so precious, but the inner attitude.  This is the reason why an ostensibly grand undertaking might have no meaning whatsoever in the eyes of the Lord, while  a seemingly minor affair could be of a great value for Him.

The conclusions are quite obvious ─ but make no mistake: by no means disregard the externals, willing to limit your attention to internal attitude.  That widow would have never won approval from Jesus, had she said to herself: “I would like to contribute something, but sorry, I have only two small coins: if I give them away, I will end up with nothing…”  No, she put her money right where her tongue was, committing her whole life into Lord’s hands.  Hadn’t she do that, she wouldn’t have been disapproved either by the people or by God, but then she would’tt have shown that attitude which singled her out of many and earned her renown all over the Christian world.

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