Mark: An 8-Day Devotional Reading PlanSample

Jesus Sees

Jesus sees. Jesus sits down across from the treasury, and he sees how the wealthy put in their large sums. And Jesus sees how the widow puts in her large heart. Jesus sees how the widow puts in these two small copper coins, two “leptai”—the smallest coins in circulation at the time, less than the worth of a penny today. Jesus witnesses the willingness of the widow, and he tells those who are his disciples, what matters most in our giving is not the sum but the sacrifice.

Jesus tells those who are his disciples, what you give out of your abundance is not the same as what you give out of your affection. What some people put in is their leftovers. What other people put in is their life. There are those who are comfortable giving God something; then there are those who aren’t comfortable until they give God everything.

The Greek word Jesus uses to express what the widow gave is *bios*. A wooden, literal translation would read something like, “She put in everything, even her whole life.” Jesus’s words startle and sober and shake the slumbering awake. There are rich people of God who give out of their margin. And there are real followers of God who give out of their *marrow*.

After we give to God, do we eat any differently? Margin? Or marrow? After we give to God, do we dress any differently? Travel any differently? Live any differently? Margin, or marrow? Are we giving God some of our money? *Or all of our lives?*

When we give, we too often give only what ensures that we don’t lose comfort or control. But when the widow gave her mites, she gave not only her money but also her marrow. She gave away not only her comfort but also her control. She gave till she had to trust God.

Jesus was born in a barn to parents who were poor. His life was poor: “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (Matt. 8:20). Jesus lived the life of a homeless man. And he died on the cross as a completely naked and utterly penniless man. Jesus gave up control of everything for us.

While the widow was willing to risk giving her life for God, Jesus unequivocally did lay down his for you. What could ever stop you from giving your trust, giving control of your life, giving the  marrow of your life, to the only One who gave up his life for you?—Ann Voskamp