All-in or just a head nod? The size of the gift is not the issue
By Dean Collins
It wasn’t just the difference between a small gift and a big one. It was the difference of being all-in or just a head nod in the direction of generosity. For all we know the rich man may have been tithing that day.
Of course we have no way of knowing anything other than what Luke recorded concerning how Jesus observed these two gifts. The rich gave out of their abundance, and the poor widow gave more because she gave all she had to live on. We must be careful we do not overreach in our interpretation. Does Jesus want all of his followers to give away their last dollar in the offering plate? Probably not. But I think he is wanting more than either legalism or tokenism when it comes to our giving. I will take a guess that the rich man in this story was guilty of both.
Careful to comply
The religious leaders of the day were careful to comply with the law. Remember how Jesus called out the crimes of the Pharisees in Matthew’s Gospel? They were so meticulous in their giving they were tithing mint, dill, and cumin! Jesus didn’t praise their detailed tithing. He condemned them for their lack of attention to the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. It is not a stretch to imagine the rich man in this short story doing the same.
Just three chapters earlier in Luke’s Gospel Jesus acknowledged a regularly despised tax collector when he humbly prayed while the Pharisee’s prayer was critiqued as self-praising, even though the Pharisee was tithing daily.
Evaluating the heart
I don’t think Jesus was focusing on percentages the day he observed the rich tossing their gifts in the offering. He was evaluating the heart. I suspect if we are not careful we can easily find ourselves marking items on our mental checklist of what it takes to be a “good Christian.” There are the things we don’t and won’t do. And then there are the things we make sure we do, like go to church on Sunday, tithe, be kind to children and pets, and take our turn serving in some volunteer programs at church or in the community.
This short passage in the context of all of Jesus’ teachings suggests Jesus isn’t at all like Santa Claus who is making a list and checking it twice to see how well behaved we are as followers. In fact, if that’s our approach then this passage might suggest we are not followers at all. We may sadly just be giving a head nod to a few aspects of what we believe to be Christian behaviors or obligations while missing the whole point of the redemption and transformation Jesus has made possible.
Faith of a child
More than once Jesus called us to demonstrate the faith and openness of a child. Not a stingy and spoiled child, but the complete trusting, curious, and loving child who can abandon the ordinary and consider the extraordinary when it comes to God. Childlike faith doesn’t hold back; it gives its all. Childlike faith doesn’t wonder if the father will provide; it knows he can and will.
I think this poor woman may have understood what Paul quotes Jesus as having said in Acts 20:35: “It’s more blessed to give than to receive. “
Lord, we confess that many days we are simply compliant when it comes to how we treat you and others. Awaken us to the joy of surrender and extravagant generosity. Stir our hearts by your spirit that we will mirror your compassion to others today. Forgive us when we are stingy in our attitude toward others. Open our hearts to the joy of our salvation and to the possibilities of what it means to be about the Kingdom of God.
Amen.
Your time with God’s Word
Luke 21:1-4; Matthew 23:23-24; Luke 18:10-14; Acts 20:32-36 ESV
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash
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