DAY 75 of #100daysofJesus - Widow's Mites

 DAY 75 of #100daysofJesus

While Jesus and his disciples were near the treasury of the temple, He took a moment to observe patrons who had come to deposit their donations.

As they watched, "many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing."

Jesus would not let this teaching moment go to waste:

"He called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living."

Jesus taught that the quality of our sacrifice counts more than the quantity.

I love how James Talmage puts it:

"In the accounts kept by the recording angels, figured out according to the arithmetic of heaven, entries are made in terms of quality rather than of quantity, and values are determined on the basis of capability and intent."

In the eyes of men, certainly the donations of the wealthy were much more impressive, but in God's eyes, the widow's offering was greatest because of the sacrifice she was willing to faithfully make.

Don't compare yourself, your capabilities, your financial success, or your talents to others. God doesn't measure us that way, and comparison isn't healthy anyway. Consider what you DO have to offer, and be willing to give your ALL to God.

Paul taught the Corinthians: "For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not."

We will never be judged by God for what we do not have to offer, but we will be abundantly blessed as we offer that which we do have. It starts with a willing mind. The widow didn't have much, but that didn't stop her from giving her ALL.

I hope we can all be a little more generous of ourselves and give what we can of our time and means to help others and build God's kingdom.

(Mark 12:41-44, 2 Corinthians 8:12, Jesus the Christ by James Talmage (Ch 31))