Giving Our All
“And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.” Mark 12:41-44
We find, in this passage, Jesus watching as all the people came and cast their money into the treasury. We also find that Jesus was not only watching them put in the money, but He was observing HOW they did it. You see, there’s a big difference in HOW a person does something. Beside this verse, in my Bible, I have written, “How do I give to the Lord?”. The Bible says that God loves a “cheerful” giver. Think about it, can God label us as a cheerful giver?
We then find, in verse 42, that while Jesus was watching, a poor widow came and threw in “two mites”. After seeing that, Jesus called His disciples over and told them that this widow gave MORE than everyone else. Now wait a minute…you go and look up the worth of 2 “mites”, and you’ll see that it was a very small contribution; one of small value………yet Jesus said that she gave MORE than the rest?!?!? Yes, He did, and here’s why. Mark 12:44, “For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.” This gives us the answer – although the rich gave “much” and of their abundance, she gave the most, because she gave ALL that she had. Now, applying this to our life, are we giving God much….or ALL? It’s not enough to give God only “much”, He deserves our ALL! Look at what it says in I Corinthians 6:19, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” “Ye are not your own”…we must remember that! We are only stewards of what God has given us – our life included. Have you given Jesus all of the areas of your life or just “much”?
I am reminded, as I write about this topic, of a message Bro. Ballew preached back in 2009 at a camp meeting titled “God Wants Your Lunch”. The text was about the lad and his lunch and how he gave it to Jesus to be used (also known as the feeding of the five thousand). Bro. Ballew used that story, as He preached, on giving God your life. It was there where I gave my life (my all) to God to use in whatever way He wanted. And today, I can tell you that I have not regretted it!! I am so thankful and, at the same time, amazed at the many opportunities He has given me to serve Him. There truly is JOY in serving Jesus!
I Surrender All
All to Jesus, I surrender; All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live.
I surrender all, I surrender all,
All to Thee, my blessèd Saviour, I surrender all.
All to Jesus I surrender; Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken; Take me, Jesus, take me now.
All to Jesus, I surrender; Make me, Saviour, wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit, Truly know that Thou art mine.
All to Jesus, I surrender; Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power; Let Thy blessing fall on me.
All to Jesus I surrender; Now I feel the sacred flame.
O the joy of full salvation! Glory, glory, to His Name!
(Judson W. Van DeVenter)
~ Bethany ~