All In

By Lisa Bell  

Insignificant. She looked at the two small coins in her hand and sighed deeply.

The Scribes milled about in the area. Their robes swelled like the sail of a ship in the breeze puffing out to match their chests. Some of these men spent much time at her humble home devouring any meager offering of food. Many of them approached the trumpet shaped treasury boxes and flung vast sums into the opening. Smugness etched their faces as they watched others contribute smaller amounts. One raised his eyebrows as a man cast in his offering.

What will they think of me? She cringed. But this is all the money I have left. Tears slipped down her cheeks. She waited. Perhaps as the crowds thinned she might give her offering unobserved. Years of loneliness since her husband’s death culminated in this moment. No family, no means of support. A great emptiness haunted her.

She longed to give. In spite of the command, God reminded her often of His goodness and giving acknowledged Him. Friends provided food sometimes or unexpected work provided a few coins. This offering of two mites seemed so small, and she felt equally insignificant. In such a vast world, who was she? The scribes scorned her lack of value.

The crowds thinned and although a few scribes lingered they appeared distracted by a man sitting directly across from the treasury. The crowd gathered around him as he spoke words that made the most devout scribe bristle. Someone called Him Jesus.

“Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love respectful greetings in the market places, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

She looked at this extraordinary man. His face radiated peace and love so intense that her heart quickened. Surely God sent this man. He watched as people continued throwing coins into the treasury. Calmness fell on her, and she rushed to the coffers. In total abandonment, she threw in her last two coins. No matter what tomorrow brought, this felt right. As the coins left her hand, her spirit soared. The small amount meant nothing to anyone, but the obedience represented giving herself to God. The release of the coins liberated her soul to fly free and joyous. She didn’t understand any of this, but she accepted it all in faith.

No one spoke to her. She turned to leave and Jesus’ eyes met her own.

“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.”

He noticed. Somehow He knew it was all I had, and He commended me for my gift instead of chiding me. She smiled at Jesus and walked home with her head held high.

Perhaps He understood her heart’s desire to see God…to show Him her love and gratitude. In that brief instance the love expressed carried her on the wings of the wind.

Insignificant? Perhaps to the world – but never in the eyes of God.