Jesus gave it all

The Father gave his Son...the Son gave his life...

Today I've been reflecting on two women, one a poor widow who 2000years ago caught the attention of Jesus when she gave everything she had, and the other a friend of mine, who this week has given away her bed to someone in need.

Mark 12 tells us Jesus went and sat near the collection box in the temple and watched - Jesus sees what you give - but more than that he sees the givers heart! Many rich people walked past and deposited generous contributions, but it was the two coins that the widow dropped in that drew the attention of Jesus - she gave everything she had to live on. Wow! What faith in the provision of her heavenly father.

My friend Lydia told my church connect group last night how she had felt challenged by God to give away something precious to her - her bed. After not having a proper bed for years growing up, she had spent her first  pay-cheque on a lovely bed. It has been something she's really loved having, but obediently she has acted in faith and offered it to a friend as a gift. It might not have been easy, and now she is again with just a mattress on the floor, but she gave cheerfully and selflessly and it's this sort of giving that moves the heart of God! Look at Mary pouring the perfume on the feet of Jesus, to the disciples it looked foolish but Jesus saw her heart and commended her actions.

We are made in the image of God, and his nature is to give, and not to count the cost. Therefore it is built into us to be givers too - but greed, fear, and indifference sometimes hold our hearts back and sadly we miss out on the joy and blessings that follow those who give.

Giving is not about comparing what you have to someone else, a little given with faith in the hand of Jesus will always be multiplied - look at the boy whose lunch feed 5000!  Nor it is begrudgingly letting go out of a sense of duty, no, it stems from a heart of love.

So today, I'm asking God to give me a heart to give, and to expand my faith and experience of his provision.