Garage Sale Worship
Do you only give what you don’t need?

July 15, 2003

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

Jesus was watching how the people were giving.  He noticed that those who were rich gave a lot, which would be expected.  But what wasn’t obvious was that what they were giving was their leftovers.  They were giving, ‘of their abundance.’

When we have garage sales or yard sales we sell off those things around our house that we don’t want anymore.  We don’t want to throw them away but we have a garage sale in hopes that someone else will want them and we may be able to make some money off them.  The question to ask ourselves is, do we do the same thing to the Lord?  Do we only give Him what we don’t really need?  Do we just give Him ‘of our abundance?’  Do we just give Him our leftovers?

This has to do with money but it can also apply to other things.  Our time, our talents, our energy.  The widow gave all that she had.  She gave everything.  She gave out of her need.  Are we waiting until we have enough money or time for ourselves and then say that we will give to God once our own needs are met?  Are we putting ourselves above the Lord?

In the eyes of the Lord, the widow gave more than all the rest of them.  God doesn’t judge things how we judge things.  He looks at percentages and proportions.  That widow’s two mites were more to God then all the money that the others gave.  God cares about why we are giving and the attitude we have when we give.  When we give to Him it is to be an act of worship.  He values our offerings of worship to Him.  He takes notice when we give out of a heart of worship to Him, no matter how small or unnoticeable it may be to others.  He knows exactly what that money means to us.

Where is the Lord in your list of priorities?  One way to tell is by looking at what you do with your money, your time, your talents, and your energy.  For really, money represents your time, talents and energy.  Know that when you give, God sees that and He appreciates what you give out of a heart of worship no matter how small and insignificant it may seem!