Lesson 89 Children Search The Widow’s Mite

Text: Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4

Memory Verse: “And he called unto him his 4.0 disciples, and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all Can they which has cast into the treasury” (Mark 12:43).

The widow in our study was very poor, yet she gave two mites living” (Mark 12:44). She threw one hundred percent of her money into the treasury even though she was a poor widow. A mite is a small coin; the smallest unit of coin money used at that time in Israel. Jesus looked on and rated her offering above what every other person gave, including rich people that gave much more than she gave. He commended the poor widow for giving more sacrificially than others. The poor widow’s sacrificial giving remains a good example for Christian youths to follow, today. We should learn how to give to God sacrificially, bountifully, cheerfully and based on our capacity (2 Corinthians 9:6-8).

Question 1: Is it scriptural for Christian youths to give? Support your answer with Bible verses.

Christian youths should cultivate the habit of giving to the needy. They are also to give their tithes, offerings and donations for church projects or mission work because God commands it. “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that yemeet with it shall be measured to you again” (Luke 6:38). Jesus did not condemn any of the givers in the temple for casting money into the treasury for God’s work. Rather, He commended the best giver, the poor widow, for the quality of her freewill offering.

Similarly, Jesus did not condemn the payment of tithes by the scribes and Pharisees but maintained that while they pay their tithes even to the smallest items, they should not neglect the weightier matters of the law: judgment, mercy and faith (Matthew 23:23). Other scriptural verses are: (Malachi 3:10- 12; 2 Kings 12:9, Proverbs 3:9-10, 1 Corinthians 16:2). Those upholding the teaching that the era of giving tithes and offerings in the church is gone are nothing but false teachers. This is because God commanded it, and it was practised before the law, during the Prophet, during Jesus days and the time of Apostles (Genesis 14:20, Leviticus 27:30; Malachi 3:10-21; Nehemiah 13:12; Matthew 23:23; 1 Corinthians 16:2). We should not listen to such preachers.

1.CHRIST’S EVALUATION OF OUR GIVING: Mark 12:41; Exodus 25:2; Deuteronomy 16:17; 1 Chronicles 29:9; Proverbs 15:3; 2 Corinthians 8:12.

“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” (Mark 12:41). After teaching and answering several questions from the scribes, the Pharisees and the Sadducees for a long time in the temple, Jesus sat down to observe how the people cast money into the treasury. This was used to teach the people His last lesson before leaving the temple (Mark 13:1). Today, Jesus is still observing everything we do including how we give our time, tithes, freewill offerings and other contributions in the church. He is omniscient and omnipresent. Nothing is hidden from Him. “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3). “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:13).

Question 2: What are the components of scriptural giving?

“...And many that were rich cast in much” (Mark 12:41). Many of the rich in the temple cast huge sum of money into the treasury. Christ is not looking at the magnitude of what we give but the manner and motive of our giving. The components or constituents of scriptural giving are clearly spelt out in the Bible.

One, giving should be done according to each person’s ability i.e. financial capacity (Deuteronomy 16:17; 2 Corinthians 8:12).

Two, it should be done with simplicity (Romans 12:8).

Three, it should be done regularly (1 Corinthians 16:2).

Four, it should be done cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Five, it should be done sacrificially (1 Chronicles 21:24).

Question 3: Is it wrong for others to see or know what we offer to God in the church?

It is not wrong for others to see or know what we offer as tithes, freewill offerings or contributions for projects in the church. However, we should not deliberately broadcast to everybody that cares to know how much we gave or intend to give to God just to attract the attention and praise of men to ourselves. On the other hand, when we give alms to people, whether in the church or outside the church, we should do it in secret (Matthew 6:2-4).

2.THE SACRIFICIAL GIVING BY THE POOR WIDOW: Mark 12:42; Genesis 22:2, 9,10; 1 Kings 17:13-15; John 6:9-13; Acts 4:34,35.

“And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing” (Mark 12:42). The poor widow must have planned to give. She left home for the temple with the two mites which was all the money in her possession with the intention of giving all to God. It was not an after- thought or a deed prompted by the presence of the Great Teacher from God in the temple. Perhaps, she simply believed that if she cast all that she had into the treasury, God would give her much more in return (Luke 6:38). As Christian youths, we should plan to give regularly to God rather than being forgetful or indifferent.

Question 4: Why should Christian youths plan to give?

When we plan to give, we will hardly forget or be unprepared to give. Consequently, we receive more blessings from God as long as we continue to give for His work. “The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself” (Proverbs 11:25). It is obvious in the Scripture that unfaithfulness in tithes and offerings will attract a curse because it is attributed to robbing God. Such youths will deprive themselves of divine blessings (Malachi 3:8-12).

Question 5: Mention other people that gave sacrificially in the Bible.

Those that gave sacrificially in the Bible include:

(1) Abraham who gave His Son to God for sacrifice (Genesis 22:9-12);

(2) The widow of Zarephath who gave the last meal meant for her and her son to Elijah (1 Kings 17:9,12-16);

(3) The lad with five loaves of bread and two small fishes who gave everything to Christ (John 6:9-13).

Besides, God gave His Son Jesus Christ to die vicariously for our redemption on the cross at Calvary. Motivated by love for man, God gave us sacrificially and generously. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

3.CHRIST’S COMMENDATION OF THE POOR WIDOW: Mark 12:43,44; Matthew 15:27,28; 26:6-12; 2 Corinthians 8:3-5; Revelation 2:18,19.

“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: 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 12:43,44). Jesus called His disciples to Himself after observing how people cast money into the treasury in the temple. He singled out the poor widow and commended her for giving sacrificially; others gave out of the abundance they had, whereas she cast in all that she had. He wanted to teach them that God measures giving, not by the amount, but by the weight of love, generosity and sacrifice. Just like our Saviour, we should commend those that do well.

Jesus commended the poor widow because what she did was an act of faith. The poor widow pleased God and Jesus needed to use what He witnessed to build up the faith of the disciples. We should learn to walk by faith and not by sight or feeling in order to please God in all that we do. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

Question 6: What is the greatest thing a youth can give to God?

The greatest thing a youth can give to God that will attract eternal commendation is his heart. “My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways” (Proverbs 23:26). We should be like the members of the churches in Macedonia who “...first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God” (2 Corinthians 8:5). Sinners and backsliders should repent and give their lives to Christ before it is too late.