Recently, I took a short trip to visit a friend that has moved. We renewed our friendship and encouraged each other. After that trip, I spent three days at a Christian Writers Workshop. When I returned home, my mind and heart overflowed with memories, experiences, and fresh ideas. I asked the Lord what I was to write. God inspired me through a post by Pastor Pete, author of “Praise 2 Worship“.
Pastor Pete expounded on the familiar story, from the Gospel of Mark about the widow’s offering. His concluding statement caused a paradigm shift in my thinking. New perspectives are good when they cause us to meditate and contemplate ideas.
The process was an exclamation point to the primary points I was mulling over from the Writers Workshop. A featured speaker shared his motive for writing. His explanation affirmed my reason for writing to glorify God and allow God to work in and through me. For that to happen I must surrender my writing to God.
The Widow’s Gift
“Sitting across from the temple treasury, he watched how the crowd dropped money into the treasury. Many rich people were putting in large sums. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two tiny coins worth very little. Summoning his disciples, he said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. For they all gave out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had —all she had to live on’ ” (Mark 12:41-44, CSB).
Jesus used the widow’s actions to teach the disciples: The widow gave all and the others gave a percentage. I’ve always thought of this story as a literal lesson about monetary giving, and it is that. But when we think about it as a metaphorical story it has a broader scope of application. Do I give my time and talents in addition to treasures to God?
“God gives all of us the same opportunity, that He gave the widow.
—Peter Caligiuri
It doesn’t matter what other people think of our offering,
what counts is if we put it into the hand of God today!”
Dear Reader, how are you using [giving and spending] your time, talents, and treasures? Are you putting all into God’s hands today?
The words to the classic hymn “Take My Life, and Let It Be” continued to roll through my mind as I thought of the widow giving all. Click here to enjoy the story behind the hymn lyrics.
Prayer:
Dear Father God, forgive me because I am guilty of offering you stingy gifts. I’ve too often given of my time and talents from the excess rather than offering you my first fruits, my best, my ALL.
Lord, today I pray the words of the old hymn, “Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.” Take my hands, feet, voice, silver and gold, moments, will and heart all for Thee. Like the widow, not a mite will I withhold. Amen.
Author Bio
I am a follower of Jesus Christ, grandmother, great-grandmother, foster care parent, and trauma survivor. I enjoy sipping tea, writing devotionals, prayers, short stories, and unburdening my heart to the Lord. Check the About page if you want to read more of my story.
Would you like to know more about the afterlife and how you can be assured of eternity in Heaven? Check the Questions page.
Check the Free Gifts page for downloadable/printable study guides and resources.
Copyright © 2020-2023 Musings of Manette Kay™ All rights reserved. Requests to the author and publisher, Manette Kay, for permission.
Clock photo by Lukas Blazek on Unsplash.
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The widow gave all, but the others gave a percentage. This is is the first time I realized this story is about so much more than money. How many times do I give God the left overs and expect to be blessed? The truth is it’s all His.
Thank you, Manette Kay. I trust you enjoyed the Christian writer’s conference? His best to you always.
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Me too, David, I had my epiphany moment when reading Pastor Pete’s post because the foundation had already been laid for me at the Writers Workshop. Your comment makes me realize I need to edit my prayer adding my own confession.
Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts. Yehovah bless you.
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I always looked at this story from a monetary point of view. But yes, it truly does expand to so much more. Giving our all to Jesus- be it time treasure or talents. Thank you for sharing this Manette.
That writers conference sounds wonderful.
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Thank you, Manu. Full disclaimer here, I have not researched the original language on this story. Christ may have been speaking of monetary gifts with His disciples.
Yet, by looking at it as a metaphor it expands to a life principle. There is no doubt the widow lived by complete trust in God. One has to be surrendering ALL areas of life to literally give all financially.
Regarding the Christian Writers Workshop, it was great. I would encourage anyone with a yearning or calling to write to attend one if opportunity avails. This was my second, I attended one three years ago. Each time it has encouraged, inspired, and refueled me. Yehovah bless you.
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When I am out and about, I wear a t-shirt that says, “Normal Isn’t Coming Back, Jesus Is, Revelation 14”, and I’m able to post about Jesus Christ. “Donations” just aren’t accepted the way they used to be.
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R New, thank you for reading and sharing. I’m not sure what you mean by, “Donations just aren’t accepted the way they used to be.”
Yehovah bless you.
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The best example that I can use is something that is easily verified by anyone. On social media sites, there are no categories for Christian pages. On Twitter there are none. On Facebook it has to be selling a book, a store, or an organization. So, even people who want to give the little that they have for Jesus Christ will have a hard time finding a place to contribute.
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I understand your point now. Thanks for elaborating.
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Like with you and others I also applied this story about the widow’s offering to money/finances. Your blog has opened a whole new perspective on the gifts that God have given me, and how I use them. There are some gifts which I am dissatisfied with for my own reasons, but according to this post and our Lord’s Words what I think of my wee gifts does not matter if I offer them to God, it is the heart that gives them that matters to Him. Thank you for this encouraging post sister! God bless you today.
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Thank you and AMEN! Alan, you captured and reiterated the take-a-away of the lesson. Yehovah bless you.
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At my age, there’s not much left to give. My book and my blog grew out of a desire to praise God and share the gospel, to encourage the faithful, and perhaps reach some who are lost. Lately I’ve been discouraged about the few readers I have, and I have missed a couple of my self-imposed Friday deadlines. But today I read Psalm 71:18, “Even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me until I proclaim your might to another generation, and your power to all those to come.”
That verse and your post today bolstered my strength to keep on.
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Robert, what a precious word provided in the Psalm. Thank you for sharing how you were encouraged. Battle weary days are challenging. Praying our Lord provide you strength, sweet rest, and endurance to take the next step or action whatever that may be. Yehovah bless you.
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My dad used to tell us kids that God wants us to be totally committed to him in every aspect of our lives. He would wave his hand and say “this farm belongs to God” He used the widow mite scripture and the disciples walking away from their careers to follow Jesus. When we sang the old hymn in church “He owns the cattle on a thousand hills” he would later say at the lunch table “He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, do you know what that means? it means he owns the meat in our freezer as well.”
Such a good insight you have brought up Manette
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Gary, thank you for sharing that wonderful testimonial about your dad. What a rich heritage of faith you’ve come from. Yehovah bless you.
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Hi Manette, it’s Marla of Godstoriesformarla and I checked out your blog. I really like this and relate so well bc I believe our blogs are for worshipping, praising and glorifying too. Good for you, going to a Christian writers conference!
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Thanks, for stopping by. This is the second time I’ve attended a 3-day conference. I try to join in such things when I can. I’m blessed to live where there is a local writers group that meets monthly. It is so beneficial to me. Yehovah bless you.
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Are you hoping to write a book?
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Possibly, if the Lord directs. I’ve had some short memoir pieces and poems published in a local anthology that my community library produces each year.
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That is great!
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I really enjoyed reading this post! Thank you for sharing! There is much wisdom here to contemplate…
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Linda, thank you for the encouragement. All praise to God the one who gives wisdom. Yehovah bless you.
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