Since
losing John to pancreatic cancer in July, I have spent much time
seeking the Lord as to how to live, and walk out, this new role of
widow. It hasn't been easy on any front, but, little by little, I'm
finding my way. I have a feeling that I've a long way to go.
Part of my seeking has included searching the Scriptures. I've looked up every reference to widows in the Bible that I can find and have discovered that widows hold a very special place in the heart of our Lord. It is expressed by His special love for, and tender care of, them. Realizing that, and taken along with the admonition found in I Thessalonians 4:13 to “sorrow not as those who have no hope” has helped immensely.
Some that I have talked with...some that are in a similar place as myself...have trouble referring to themselves as a widow and don't like the reference at all, but, to me, the word “widow” is a Biblical term that the Spirit Himself uses throughout Scripture to describe a woman who was married, but whose husband has died. Therefore, to me, the word and reference is totally appropriate. My apology to those who disagree.
In
studying the many references to widows in the Bible I find that a
couple of my favorite Scripture passages are among them...the entire
book of Ruth and the story of Elisha and the widow woman with the
vessels of oil (2 Kings 4:1-7). Both of these passages are
exceptional and are profitable for study on multiple
levels...but...that's not where I'm headed today. I do recommend that
you read and study those passages though. They are both very good!
There
are so many directions that I could go with this, but, believe it or
not, widowhood is not the focus of my writing today. It is through
the study of it, though, that led me to where I am headed and that is
to the story of the widow's mite found in Mark
12:41-44.
Interestingly enough, in the verses just prior to this passage (verses 38 through 40) Jesus was warning His followers to beware of the scribes (religious leaders) who seek recognition, honor, and prestige and who “devour widow's houses” (take advantage of unsuspecting and lonely widows).
Jesus had just finished warning His followers about this, when what does He see, but a certain poor widow throwing her two mites into the temple treasury. He calls his disciples over and makes note to them that the poor widow had cast in more than all the others. He said that they had cast in of their abundance, but that she, of her want, cast in all that she had.
As noted here by Jesus, the rich often give only a token from the abundance of their wealth that involves neither sacrifice nor generosity. Though the widow gave only a small amount, her giving represented a heart of extravagant generosity. She cast in “all the living she had.” She gave as much as she possibly could.
From this and other passages we can clearly see that the Lord doesn't evaluate our lives and ministry by outward success, but by the quality of our love, faith, and extravagant giving of ourselves to Him in sincere devotion.
Are you an extravagant giver of yourself to the Lord? Do you, of your want (of what you lack), give all that you have, or all that you possibly can (your hopes, your dreams, your talents and abilities, your substance), to Him...His service...His people? I'd like to encourage you today to seek the Lord on how to use what, you appear, to have little of to do great and mighty things for the Kingdom of God.
Now...just for fun...what is, and exactly how much is, a mite?
According to Google, “the mite, also known as a lepton, was a Jewish coin and the smallest used in New Testament time. At the time of Mark's writing, it was worth 1/64 of a denarius. A denarius was a day's wage for a common worker. In today's terms, it would be worth about 1/8 of a cent.”
The widow put in two mites. According to our passage (Mark 12:42), two mites equal a farthing. A farthing equals one-quarter penny.
I recently acquired a real mite that would have been in circulation between 100 B.C and 60 A.D. I can't help but wonder if it wasn't one of the very two that the poor widow observed by Jesus and His followers put in the temple treasury that very day. It's not probably, but it is possible!
The widow's mite coins above are replicas of those originals
that were used in the Holy Land. May they serve to remind you of
Jesus's teaching in Mark 12: 41-44 concerning the story of the poor
widow and her extravagantly generous heart.
May we all have such a
heart when it comes to the things of our Lord and Saviour in these
end of days in which we live!
Until next time...
~Rebecca
Scritpture
references: I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Mark 12:38-44; 2 Kings 4:1-7;
Ruth Chapters 1 through 4
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I beleive that Mary must have been widowed early in Jests life as he had such a special love for widows and mentioned them often. Jewish writings from his life talk about him having brothers and sisters, by Mary and Joseph, but do not say anything about Joseph when Jesus was past his teen years, which makes me think he must have passed away. We know Mary was at his death. I love my savior and I am so grateful for his care and kindness.
ReplyDeleteOh, wow! I had never thought of that! I mean...I knew that Joseph was gone by the time Jesus was crucified, because Jesus turned the care of his mother over to John, but I never thought about Mary being widowed and the possible connection of it to Jesus's special love and care of widows overall. Thank you soooo much for pointing that out. I appreciate your wisdom and insight. Blessings! <3
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your reading today about the widow’s mite. I just heard a sermon concerning her mite. A Widows mite if compounded interest at 4% would amount to $4.6 trillion today. That was quite an investment!
ReplyDeleteThankyou! And, another wow!!! That's amazing!!! Another whole different perspective that I would have never even thought of! It's just one more example of how, when it comes to the things of God, sowing little can result in much. Thank you for sharing that! Simply amazing!!! Blessing! <3
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