Giving from now!

Luke 21:1-3, "As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. ² He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ³ “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others."

God asks us to give.  Give from the abundance He gives us right now.  He doesn't want us to wait for another day, He doesn't want us to wait for what the world would call abundance.  He calls for us to be like that widow in the right now.


Can you imagine: losing one of the two jobs your house holds, having to budget tighter and feeling like you are doing okay.  That God has blessed you.  Then to get a small windfall.  Slotted for the savings account.  Slotted for the grocery budget.


Can you imagine: meeting someone who has an aching need.  A heart breaking choice to make.  And you hear Jesus reading Luke 21:1-3.  And you know He is asking you not to share what you EARNED but what He BLESSED you with.


Can you imagine: letting someone avoid the pawn shop and still get groceries?  Hearing their story and seeing Jesus shine in their faces.  To feel Jesus in your heart in a real way.  In the dirty, messy, fixing up the ruins way.


The widow has more story than these lines tell us.


She gave from her need, not her abundance.  God had provided her with what she needed, and she still gave back.  I would bet you she shared her food too. She helped others.  Her pennies at the temple were in contrast to the gold pouring from rich fingers but it is her life we can treasure!


No spouse, no word of family to care for her. Possibly on the margin of the marginalized and yet she gave from her need. 


We have what we have because of the Grace of God.  Our stewardship of it should be dictated by that same grace.  


Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”


To be sure, we are not going to know when or how but we can trust that God will keep this promise.  You can count on it.  


Where is your area of need?  Where do you feel least abundant?  Give from there!  If it is time, give some.  If it is money, give some.  The widow outdid the richest people there with her pennies.  It is not the amount but the heart.  It is not the minutes or hours but the heart.  It is not the face value but the heart.


When you see a situation and think, "Someone should do something!" pause a moment.  Perhaps God already has sent someone, perhaps that someone is you!


Jesus gave to us from the cross in a way we can never, ever, ever repay.  And He didn't do it cheaply.  He did not skimp on time, words, tears or blood.  He saved us when He didn't have to and when we weren't even close to worthy.  He wore all our sins and went to battle with their weight upon His body.  He won for us. Forever!


Give from your now.  From your need, your shortage.  You have ten minutes to spare, share five or three.  You have a grocery budget, get something for the food bank.  Are you driving past someone who needs a ride?  Do you know someone who needs prayer or a friend or some intentional encouragement?  Pray, and if the Holy Spirit moves you, follow that lead and move!  You will not believe the blessings you'll find just a few steps away!