A lesson by Pastor John Skaggs
Sovereign Grace Baptist Church
Date: 3-14-99
Sermon Number: 135
Text: Luke 21:1-4
The Widow's Gift
Since the end of chapter nineteen of Luke's Gospel Jesus has been doing battle with the religious leaders of Israel. The Pharisees, Scribes, Priests, and the Sadducees have all tried their hand at finding something about Jesus for which they could accuse Him before the people or the Roman government. What they succeeded in finding was a man with wisdom and insight beyond their expectations. Time and again our Lord's response to their evil tactics brought them to silence. They were no match for Him. For He was the promised Messiah, God with us. He taught strange doctrines, healed the sick, and even raised the dead. For these reasons Jesus had captured the peoples interest. This troubled the leaders of Israel a great deal. But what troubled them more was our Lord's direct, public, revelation of their hypocrisy. A good example of this in found in Luke 20:45-47 NASB. And while all the people were listening, He said to the disciples, {46} "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love respectful greetings in the market places, and chief seats in the synagogues, and places of honor at banquets, {47} who devour widows' houses, and for appearance's sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation."
Jesus called them all hypocrites, phonies, money hungry robbers of widows. So we are not surprised to find that this body of men sought our Lords life.
At this point it seems that Jesus sits down to rest somewhere in the "Women's Court." Near by there were thirteen trumpet shaped receptacles for gifts, dues, and offerings of various kinds. Jesus had a birds eye view of the worshipers as they gave their gifts. As Jesus watched He saw many rich people dropping in large gifts and, of course, there is nothing wrong with that if the heart is right. Problem was many were accustomed to making a big show of their giving. They were after the praise of men, not of God. Among the rich and hypocritical worshipers there was a very poor widow. She too dropped in a gift. She gave two very small coins. Let's hear our Lord's analysis of what He saw. Our text for this morning in found in Luke 21:1-4 NASB. And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury. {2} And He saw a certain poor widow putting in two small copper coins. {3} And He said, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them; {4} for they all out of their surplus put into the offering; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on."
By human calculations this woman gave almost nothing. But Jesus sees it differently. He says that she actually gave more than all the rest. Why? Because she gave from the heart out of love and faith in God's ability to provide for all her needs. She did not give for show as the leaders of Israel did. This lady was a real lover of God. So, in two ways she gave all she had. She literally gave all the money she had and she also gave herself. On the monetary side the others gave out of their abundance. Their giving cost them nothing. There was no pain or sacrifice involved. Their giving was a religious show. These were not lovers of God or of man, they loved themselves and the praise of men. It is possible that this widow could have had motives as evil as those who were rich. But we know this was not the case because Jesus was there and He knows the hearts of all men. He tells us that her heart was right and, therefore, her gift was greater than all the others.
Did this lady have a right to expect God to take care of her needs since she had just given everything away? Yes she did. For her God is our God and His name is Jehovah-jirah, "The Lord will provide." In the presence of this widow the question comes quickly to mind, "Does God require that we also, literally, actually, give all our money to Him?" Are we to write a check that will close out our bank accounts and put it in the offering plate? Are we all to sell our property this week and give the proceeds to the church the next? Without hesitation I say no, He does not require that we do that, but He does require that we be willing to do that. He requires an attitude of heart wherein all that we are and have is at God's disposal at all times. We cannot say of our time or property that this much is God's and this much is not. For we have nothing that has not been given us. We are merely stewards of what we poses, God is the owner. Therefore, we must dedicate all things to His service and glory. Should the time come when we are asked to let everything go for the glory of God and the support of His work on earth we must be confident that He will continue to provide all our needs. There was a time long ago when my wife and I were brought face to face with such a decision.
It was not long after our conversion. In my "new Christian zeal" I thought that I had laid everything on the altar as it were. Unbeknown to me my stuff, my money, still held a position of power in my life that was wrong. God intended that I see this and deal with it. So, He moved my wife to suggest that we sell all we had, everything, and become caretakers of a ranch so that if God decided to send us here or there for His service we would be free to pick up and go. In that moment God revealed to me that my heart was still bound to earthly things to the extent that I might just choose them over Him. As I remember it, I went through an extended struggle. It was a rude awakening. It was very humiliating. I had not given all to God. So, I struggled, and prayed, and fought, and at last, by His grace, and the work of the Spirit in my heart, I let go, I was free. God could have it all if necessary. I was ready to sell out and move to the ranch. We never did sell or move. God has not required that of us. What He did require and still does is that we be ready and willing to do so. What a lesson that was and continues to be. We cannot serve God and mammon. He requires a total commitment from all His children.
As He calls us to this total commitment He also supports our feeble, trembling, frame with many wonderful and encouraging promises. So as we continue to think about this widow and our Lord's commendation of her giving practice lets consider some of the promises and principles related to giving. We'll begin in Luke 6:38 NASB.
"Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."
If you will take time to look at the verses preceding this text you will find that we are told to give and lend to those who are in need without regard to a persons worthiness or the likely hood of a return. This giving has to do with the material, with food, money, and clothes, but it includes ourselves as well. Christians are to be giving people. In our practice of mercy we are to be generous as opposed to stingy and miserly. Though God tells us not to demand a return from the people we give and lend to, He GUARANTEES an abundant return Himself. He encourages our obedience by promising a blessing. By these words our kind Father removes all our fears, all the, "What ifs." By these words God encourages us to, "Walk by faith and not by sight," while we rest on the promise, faithfulness, and integrity of God.
{38} "GIVE, AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU; GOOD MEASURE, PRESSED DOWN, SHAKEN TOGETHER, RUNNING OVER, THEY WILL POUR INTO YOUR LAP. FOR BY YOUR STANDARD OF MEASURE IT WILL BE MEASURED TO YOU IN RETURN."
This text tells us that we can throw ourselves into the work and ministry without fear. It tells us that we can give ourselves and our money to the Lord's work generously, without fear that we'll short ourselves. It tells us that we can lend and forget about it, for the Lord Himself will repay.
Notice that the return promised is an abundant one. Whether it be spiritual or monetary, it will be more than enough. The return will be pressed down, shaken together, and running over. This is what you hope for, but never get, when you buy potato chips and breakfast cereal. When these are pressed down and shaken together, you feel like you've been robbed, there's just nothing there. But God doesn't do things like that, His provision is always packed tight, the box is really full. It is in fact, running over.
Notice that the promise encourages GENEROSITY. "For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return." This is a general Biblical principle that I cannot fully explain. Nevertheless it is clearly the teaching of the scriptures. Consider the words of Luke 6:37 NASB. "And do not judge and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven." We also have the words of 2 Corinthians 9:6 NASB. "Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully." If these texts tell us nothing else they tell us that God's blessings toward the selfish arrive in very small boxes. "For by your standard of measure it will be measured to your in return."
Next I want to show you that your growth, spiritually, will be hindered if you cling too tightly to your material possessions. Consider with me the words of Luke 16:10-13 NASB. "He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. {11} If therefore you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous mammon, (money, the little thing cited in vs. 10) who will entrust the true riches to you? (the true riches are spiritual riches, knowledge, spiritual maturity etc.) {12} "And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? (All your money belongs to another, God, you are only a steward. The question is, "Have you been a faithful steward, using God's money for His Glory in accord with His instructions?" "Have been merciful to those in need?" "Or is money so important to you that you can let the church and your neighbor suffer while you refuse to help?" Cling selfishly to your things and you will never own real treasure, God's truth, peace, spiritual maturity. We must remember that . . . ) {13} "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."
If you give to the Lord's work with a reluctant, miserly, hand expect the return to be the same. God will not entrust real treasure to a person who won't honor Him with temporal treasure. "For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."
With the next few texts I want us to see that when we give generously, out of love for God, we bring Him much glory. First we have the record of one church helping another church which was experiencing much difficulty. Look with me at Romans 15:25-28 NASB. {25} ". . . but now, I am going to Jerusalem serving the saints. {26} For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make A CONTRIBUTION FOR THE POOR AMONG THE SAINTS IN JERUSALEM. {27} Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles (The word refers to all non-Jewish people, specifically the Christians of Macedonia and Achaia.) have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them (the Jews) also in material things. {28} Therefore, when I have finished this, and have put my seal on this fruit (this offering) of theirs, I will go on by way of you to Spain."
Now look with me at II Corinthians eight where we find Paul using the Macedonian's generosity to the church in Jerusalem to show the Corinthians how they ought to give. (2 Cor 8:1-15 NASB) "Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, {2} that in a GREAT ORDEAL OF AFFLICTION their abundance of joy and their DEEP POVERTY overflowed in the WEALTH OF THEIR LIBERALITY."
These Macedonians came to the aid of the Jerusalem church at a time when they had plenty of their own problems. They were in the midst of a,"Great ordeal of affliction." Further they were experiencing, "Deep poverty." Nevertheless, they gave GENEROUSLY to their brethren in need. Paul continues, {3} "For I testify that according to their ability, and BEYOND THEIR ABILITY they gave of their own accord, {4} BEGGING US WITH MUCH ENTREATY FOR THE FAVOR OF PARTICIPATION IN THE SUPPORT OF THE SAINTS, {5} and this, not as we had expected, but they FIRST GAVE THEMSELVES TO THE LORD AND TO US BY THE WILL OF GOD."
Notice the order of progression here. FIRST, they gave themselves to the Lord, THEN to their leaders, THEN they BEGGED for the opportunity to support the Jerusalem saints. They gave according to and beyond their ability. What do you think this means? I have wondered about this for along time. I believe it might mean something like this. Suppose a man says, "I can't afford to give anymore than I have already given." By this he means he is not willing to sacrifice anymore of his security or comfort for the cause in question. His giving is according to his ability as defined by these criteria. For this man to give beyond his ability would mean that he would have to cut into his security and comfort to meet the needs of others. I believe this is what "ability and beyond ability" means. And I believe this is what the Macedonians did when they collected and sent that offering to the poor in Jerusalem. They gave without considering their own well being. Like the widow they believed that God would take care of them as they took care of others. Paul's counsel to the Corinthians continues;
{7} But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you ABOUND IN THIS GRACIOUS WORK ALSO. (The gracious work of generous giving) {8} I AM NOT SPEAKING THIS AS A COMMAND, BUT AS PROVING THROUGH THE EARNESTNESS OF OTHERS THE SINCERITY OF YOUR LOVE ALSO. Here we see that this kind of giving is the offspring of ones love for God and man.
Paul now sets before his readers the ultimate example of generous, sacrificial giving, Jesus Christ Himself. {9} "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, (Jesus sacrificed His comfort and well being, indeed, His life, to meet the needs of others. He was rich but chose to become poor for the sake of His Father's children.) that you through His poverty might become rich. {10} And I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it. {11} But now finish doing it also; that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability. {12} FOR IF THE READINESS IS PRESENT, (If the desire to give is in the heart.) IT IS ACCEPTABLE ACCORDING TO WHAT A MAN HAS, NOT ACCORDING TO WHAT HE DOES NOT HAVE." This is why the widows gift of two small coins amounted to more than all the great gifts that had been given. She gave what she had with her heart, out of love, in accord with faith. She did not do so out of compulsion but out of desire. She did not do so for show but for the Lord. Folks giving has to do with what you have right now. Not with what you might have some day. The apostle reveals to us that these Corinthians voiced their intentions to help, as the Macedonians had, over a year ago. Paul says, get on with it. The desire is good, but move beyond that to actually doing it. Then he appears to answer an objection. "We will give as we said we would we just can't afford it right now. Wait till we have more resources." To this Paul replies, "For if the readiness is present it is acceptable according to what a mans has, not according to what he does not have." In other words, "Now is the time, give what you have to give. If you wait till you can "afford it" it will never happen. Lets continue with the Corinthian text.
"For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality--{14} at this present time your abundance being a supply for their want, that their abundance also may become a supply for your want, that there may be equality; {15} as it is written, "HE WHO gathered MUCH DID NOT HAVE TOO MUCH, (Because he gave it to those in need.) AND HE WHO gathered LITTLE HAD NO LACK." God's present and abundant supply to me is to overflow to those who haven't enough. Then, when I am on the other side of the fence their abundant supply will meet my need. The man whose harvest fills his barns to overflowing is to share his abundance with those whose harvest was not sufficient for them.
II Corinthians 9:6 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. ("For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.") {7} Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. (Like the widow) {8} And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;"
Giving, ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters, is a matter of heart, not law. "Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart." True and generous giving flows from a deep love for God and the person or the cause in question. When a person gives as he should he does not do so grudgingly or under compulsion for God loves a cheerful giver.
Once again we find that the generous Christian will never come up on the short end of the stick. God Himself will see to it that you have, "all sufficiency," so you can continue being generous in your giving. Hear the encouragements found in verse ten.
{10} Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, will supply and multiply your seed FOR SOWING AND INCREASE THE HARVEST OF YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS; {11} you will be enriched in everything for all liberality." Notice the connection once again between the physical and the spiritual. God will enable the generous man to continue giving and will return to him an increase in personal righteousness i.e. spiritual growth.
In the next portion of this text Paul makes it clear that such giving glorifies the Lord. "Which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. {12} for the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also OVERFLOWING THROUGH MANY THANKSGIVINGS TO GOD. {13} because of the PROOF given by this ministry (The generous giving of this impoverished church was proof of their faith in God the Father and God the Son.) they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all, {14} while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. {15} thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!"
The original instance of giving brought glory to God. Those who received the gift offered up praise and thanksgiving to God, this glorified Him. The Apostles related the account to others they met and in their writings as well. Those who heard offered up praise and thanks to God. Many, no doubt, followed their example of giving, starting the cycle all over again. Those who received the gifts began to pray for the givers, which prayers are a means of grace to God's people. Thus, there was a return of increased righteousness to the givers as well as continued material provision. This report has been repeated millions of times as people read and teachers teach these scriptures. It is as if a great stone was cast into the sea making great waves that circle the globe again and again and again. So is every generous gift given in the name of our Lord Jesus for the relief of the those in need and the support of His church. May God have mercy upon us all and give us the strength to be generous with what He has given us. May He enable us to walk by faith and not by sight or fear. May He give us strength to hear His command and believe His promise. (Luke 6:38 NASB) "Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."