Jesus would love for his disciples to look past the generous deed of a little widow putting all that she had in the offering plate (Mark 12:41–44), noticing instead the generous person that can develop from such a beautiful act. Our widow friend gives us a preview of the One who has given the gift of his whole life—not pieces of it—for our sake. He is the Good Shepherd who would later say, “I lay down my life for my sheep” (John 10:15).
Every time we unclench our fistfuls of wealth, we increase the odds of being able to receive the benefits of our Lord’s sacrificial love. And when we do this, we are well on the way to becoming generous people.
Adapted from “Everything She Had” by Peter Marty, from the March 2012 issue of Gather magazine.
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