Daily Nugget:
There is nothing we do that Heaven does not know about. In Luke 21:1-4, this is illustrated by Jesus’ observation of people giving at the Temple.
Jesus was standing by the Temple treasury and watching those putting in their money to help meet the synagogue’s needs. From what was recorded in these verses, we can learn much about what He knew about the givers then and probably knows about those that give today. We see Jesus knew:
- Who gave. He saw the rich and the poor give and knew who did not give.
- How much they physically gave. Jesus knew exactly how much a poor widow gave. He knew she gave two of the smallest Greek copper coins, mites, to help provide for the Temple’s upkeep. He also knew that rich people gave far more.
- How much their gift meant to the giver. Jesus knew the rich gave out of their extra. It was not much of a sacrifice to them.
Although her offering was nothing compared to what the wealthy gave, the Saviour knew that the widow gave all she had. He knew the burden she had for the work of the Lord and how giving to it was more important to her than her many earthly needs. He knew her giving was sacrificial.
Keep Jesus’ observance in mind the next time you give to your church ministry. He knows if you give or not and how much you give. Most importantly, He knows what the value of the gift means to you. Fifty cents in the offering plate may have been a lot 75 years ago, but today it is less than what a person would pay for coffee. Giving a pittance or not as much as we could give shows God the value we place on His ministry.
God does not need our money. He could point any pastor to the largest diamond in the world or a five-pound golden nugget to meet the ministry’s needs. He, however, chooses us to sacrificially give our best to keep the Gospel going out to the world and to meet the needs of others. Our giving shows Him how important our local church is to us. What does He know about your giving?
Today’s Thought:
“Give God what’s right, not what’s left!” — Author Unknown
Words to Understand:
Pestilences: infestations of rodents or insects
Today’s Reading:
Luke 21
1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
5 ¶ And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,
6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.
13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.
18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
20 ¶ And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
29 ¶ And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
37 And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives.
38 And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.
