The Generosity of the Poor Widow

Mark 12:41-44 --

⁴¹ Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. ⁴² But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
⁴³ Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. ⁴⁴ They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” 

“Our generosity needs to be built upon the great truth of God’s generosity towards us”
 John Richardson 

It’s not what you give, or
even how much you give –
It’s why you’ve given it 

The Generosity of our God

He’s made Himself known to us through

• General Revelation

²⁰ For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. Romans 1:20 (NIV)

• Special Revelation
  Heb 1:1-2
• Common graces

“There is nothing you enjoy that was not given by God, created by God. In fact, all of life is sustained by, gifted by, and held together by the generosity of God whether you love him or not.” Matt Chandler

The Blessings we have received 

Ephesians 1:3-14

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. ⁴ For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love ⁵ he predestined us for adoption to sonship  through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. ⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace ⁸ that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, ⁹ he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, ¹⁰ to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

¹¹ In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, ¹² in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. ¹³ And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

• Blessings from the Father (1:1–6)
  • He has chosen us (vv. 3–4).
  • He has adopted us (v. 5).
  • He has accepted us (v. 6).

• Blessings from the Son (1:7–12)
  • He has redeemed us (v. 7a).
  • He has forgiven us (v. 7b).
  • He has revealed God’s will to us (vv. 8–10).
  • He has made us an inheritance (vv. 11–12).

• Blessings from the Spirit (1:13–14)
  • He has sealed us (v. 13).
  • He has given us an earnest (v. 14). 

WHY – To the praise of His Glory!

The Challenge: Generously Bless those around us

Ephesians 2:1-10

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, ² in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. ³ All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. ⁴ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. ⁶ And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷ in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

What does this look like?

• Hospitality
• Service
• Mentoring/Discipleship
• Kindness 

Remember:

It’s not what you give, or
even how much you give –
It’s why you’ve given it