What Does A Real "Giver" Look Like?

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.”

Mark 12:41-44

Jesus helps us understand that what we give to God involves both WHO we are and WHAT we have.  True giving is, ultimately, a matter of the generosity of the heart of the giver.  Because of this reality, a person does not have to have A LOT in order to give A LOT.  The widow in this story gave MUCH…she actually gave an extraordinary amount, because she gave it ALL.

This is the type of thing that other people may never know or recognize about the true giver so this can be difficult, in fact, it’s a mark a great maturity.  You see, IF we’re really going to give MUCH, we’re hoping that, at least, we get a little credit.  We hope that our extreme generosity will be noticed and appreciated.  But the true giver understands that God sees and God knows!  And—this part is really amazing—that’s enough…for a true giver.