I was recently reading through Mark and paused at the story of the poor widow who gave two coins to the temple treasury. Almost every Christian is familiar with this story: the widow gives away a few pennies—all that she has—while others throw in much more from their abundance. Jesus gathers his disciples and tells them that the widow has given more than anyone else.
What’s clear from this story is that Jesus doesn’t do math the way we do. How does the one who gave the least get defined as the one who gave the most?
It’s obvious that this story is about much more than what was in the offering plate. This story is about what each person kept—what remained in their pocket after they gave.
Let’s apply this concept to our lives. When we think about our passions, aspirations, dreams, and resources, are we surrendering none, some, or all to God?