Worship Changes Everythingনমুনা

How Much?

Luke 21:1-4 "I’ve got this much. How much is for me? How much for God? How much for others?"

C. S. Lewis said, “I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditures exclude them.”

Fulton Sheen said, “Never measure your generosity by what you give, but rather by what you have left.”

Does that mean I worship God by giving until it hurts? When our use of money is worship of God, it hap-pens entirely differently. We don’t give until it hurts. We simply live to give. The question is no longer how much but rather what does God want you to do? Let Him lead by His Spirit.

The story of Jesus observing the gift of a poor widow reveals such a pure act of worship with money.

Just then he looked up and saw the rich people dropping offerings in the collection plate. Then he saw a poor widow put in two pennies. He said, “The plain truth is that this widow has given by far the largest offering today. All these others made offerings that they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all!”  Luke 21:1–4 (The Message)

Her extravagant gift so moved the heart of our Lord that He couldn’t let the moment pass without bringing it to His disciples’ attention. “Look! Did you see that? Don’t miss what just happened.” Their eyes and ears were quite likely drawn to the rich who were dropping handfuls of loud clanging coins in the offering plate. Jesus’ eyes were drawn to worship.

A beautiful lady once gave me an authentic ancient “widow’s mite” in a small blue jewelry box, which I keep at my desk to remind me constantly of Jesus’ priorities in worship. Giving it all, my very best, in every area of my life will always be the goal.