Mark
12:41-44
New
Living Translation (NLT)
The
Widow’s Offering
Jesus
sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the
crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts.
Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins.
Jesus
called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this
poor widow has given more than all the others who are making
contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she,
poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”
What
does this story have to say about self-esteem?
a.
God's opinion of who we are and what we do is the one that counts.
b.
God doesn't judge our worth by assets, abilities or appearances.
c.
Anyone can make an important contribution to God's kingdom.
d.
God is aware of what we do for him, no matter how insignificant it
seems to others or ourselves.
(Serendipity
Bible 10th anniversary edition, page 1418).
When
when will we ever cease being more impressed by power than by spirit?
That is the key question. The story of the widow's offering
buttresses – indeed redeems – the self-esteem of people with
power deficits. It is shown that such deficits are irrelevant in the
eyes of God - anyone can make an important contribution to God's
kingdom. And this is true and operative no matter what others think
or indeed even what we think.
The
irony that lies at the core of belief is that the last shall be
first, and the first last. This is true in the world of meaning—a
world that has more final importance and sway in human affairs than
all the mere accoutrements of power. For meaning has to do with
perception and perception with great facility undercuts power symbols
– for symbols gain their strength from meaning but meaning is
finally ruled by spirit—The Kingdom of God.
That
is, we can have our coffers overflowing with highrolling symbols –
but their value can be undercut instantly by perceptual shifts. That
was the grave danger that Jesus presented. The great light of spirit
and meaning that shone upon the world devalued in place the
currencies of the power structure—and the diminishing of property
values is the ultimate sin of the righteous. The power structure in
disgust murmurs “there goes the neighborhood!” But they are
powerless to doing anything effective about it.
