September 30, 2010
What are you willing to give?
Luke 20:41-21:4
David Kimball
Central Truth
Are we going to give it all or just enough?
Key Verse | Luke 21:1–4
And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury. And He saw a poor widow putting in two small copper coins. And He said "Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them; for they all out of their surplus put into the offering; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on." (Luke 21:1-4)
Luke 20:41-21:4
Whose Son Is the Christ?
41 But he said to them, “How can they say that the Christ is David's son? 42 For David himself says in the Book of Psalms,
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
43
until I make your enemies your footstool.”’
44 David thus calls him Lord, so how is he his son?”
Beware of the Scribes
45 And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 47 who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”
The Widow's Offering
1 Jesus 1 21:1 Greek He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. 2 21:2 Greek two lepta; a lepton was a Jewish bronze or copper coin worth about 1/128 of a denarius (which was a day's wage for a laborer) 3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
Dive Deeper | Luke 20:41-21:4
How much am I willing to give? That is a question that I have asked many times. Not only have I asked this about money, but also about my life and the gifts and talents God has given me. As Jesus is sitting and watching all that is going on in the temple, He is looking for a way to show the disciples what faith really looks like. After seeing rich man after rich man come and give from their abundance, He finally sees someone who is giving all she had with the faith that God is going to work it all out. If only I had the faith of that widow.
Faith that God will provide, that is what the widow had. She knew that even though she was giving away all she had in the world, God was going to come through. Living in Dallas, I don't see this played out very much. Texans are a proud lot. We like things big and in abundance. From our football stadiums, to our shopping malls, even our church buildings, we like things big in Texas. We live in a great business climate, and there is a lot of money here. We aren't afraid to spend it or even give it, just not all of it. Can you imagine if we all had the attitude of the widow, though? If we trusted God with our abundance instead of out of our abundance?
Having had the opportunity to travel overseas for several mission trips, I am amazed at so many of the folks I have met and their willingness to give me their best. I have seen people bring out their best, simply because a believer from another country was visiting. They trust the Lord with all they have because He is all they have. Every time I return from a trip like that, I am faced with my own abundance and that question: how much am I willing to give? Do I have faith that God will provide if I give all I have?
Discussion Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus used the example of the widow and the rich men to teach His disciples?
2. When is a time in your life that you have been more like the widow? More like the rich men?
3. Do you have faith that God will provide all that you need?
4. Other than money, what are some ways that you can give more like the widow?
FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What did Jesus say about the teachers of religious law in Luke 20:46-47? If you were in On Your Mark or Crossroad45 last year, do you remember the definition of integrity? (Answer: Following God inside, outside, and everywhere . . . even when no one’s looking).
2. Did the teachers of religious law have integrity? When is it hardest for you to have integrity?
3. What do you do when you struggle to follow God everywhere?