In Pursuit of JesusSample

Giving Our All

When Bobby, who was raised in a poor Scottish family, attended a missions meeting at the local village church, he made a decision to receive Jesus as his Savior. When the offering plate reached him, he asked the usher to place it on the floor. Stepping into it with his bare feet, he said, “I don’t have any money to give to God, but I give myself!”

Bobby was Robert Moffat, who later became a missionary in South Africa. He worked tirelessly to share God’s love, including translating all of the Bible into a local language. Moffat and his wife gave themselves to serving God.

His story of wholehearted giving brings to mind the story in Mark’s gospel of a poor widow placing what appeared to be a small offering at the temple. Jesus, observing and knowing she gave “everything she had to live on,” told His disciples that she gave “more than all the others . . . making contributions” (Mark 12:43–44). While the others gave from their wealth, she gave from her heart.

Giving our all might mean serving people in another country as Robert Moffat did, but it could mean serving God with passion right where we are. We can give of our time, our financial resources, our prayers of intercession, and so much more.

Just as Jesus recognized the widow’s offering as a gift, God will see our heart and receive our offering with love. —Amy Boucher Pye

How do you think those in the temple hearing Jesus speak reacted? If you had been there, how might you have responded?

Father God, all we have comes from You. Help me to give generously and with a glad heart, for You are the source of all things.