GIVING IN "ABUNDANCE"

I’ve heard the sermon of the widow’s mite many times. The Lord showed me something that is vital to this lesson. Let’s look at what we are being told.

"41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. 42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. 43 And 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: 44 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." Mark 12:41-44 (KJV)

One obvious fact is Jesus is talking about giving since He compares the giving of one with the giving of others. Yet who are the others? It seems that everyone wants to compare the giving of the widow to that of the scribes and Pharisees. Shall the Pharisees stand with common people? No, they positioned themselves at the head, across from the people. Would the whole of the people be giving on this day or just the Pharisees and one widow? The whole of the people would be giving. Though it talks about the “rich casting in much”, we must not compare that with the “abundance” mentioned later. Also, most of the people of that day lived from day to day and did not have the “abundance” (as in a lot of stuff) of the Pharisees. It is these people who were also giving. Yet Jesus pointed out the widow.

In comparing their giving, the key word here is abundance. The Greek word to which abundance is derived is perisseuó which does not mean having in abundance or a lot of stuff. The abundance perisseuó indicates a “surplus” (HELPS 4052) or “to be over, to remain” (STRONGS 4052) also measured in “to exceed a fixed number.” A surplus, according to the dictionary, is “an amount of something left over when requirements have been met”

The story here was not as much about the widow’s mite, but rather that the other people giving (not necessarily the Pharisees; but not excluded either), gave only after they were done spending what they felt was needed to spend. In today’s standards, this would equal a poor tithe after we’ve paid our bills, ate out at a nice restaurant, had a couple large caramel macchiato, paid on loans of cars which are nicer than required, homes nicer than required, getting our hair styled, and that list could go on and on.

The Bible makes one of many things clear... God wants to be first. The others in this story put God after the worldly things but the widow put Him first.

God Bless
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