All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on. (Luke 21:4)
While an offering is being taken in the temple, Jesus cuts through the outer appearance of things and causes people to look at their hearts. While the rich gave more materially, Jesus commends the poor widow for her generosity. He’s really praising her for the attitude of her heart. She did the best she could.
Is the point here that we should give all we have to the poor? No! If that were true, we’d all need to be on welfare! The message is this: As we serve God, He is more concerned with the attitude of our heart than He is with how much we give or what we do. Our material wealth, or lack of it, is not the major issue. It’s a matter of the heart!
Perhaps reading this verse has caused you to think about your own heart. How’s your attitude? In your giving and other service for God, do you do so wholeheartedly? Or are you holding back? Try it. Step out and do your best. After all, Jesus gave His all for you.
