All her living

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.

There is a precious widow in this story that the Lord notices and points out to His disciples. Here He is sitting over near the treasury and observes many coming by, making their rounds, and doing their duties. They are casting in their coins into the treasury. They are giving their part that they always give. Many that were rich cast in much. But that is little for a rich man to cast in much. He already has abundance! It is not sacrifice! He is just giving a portion of his wealth. He will not feel the difference, and will not endure any significant hardship as a result of his deposition into the treasury. It’s just what they’ve always done. It is just part of the weekly routine. And because they have done it, they feel that they are right in the sight of God.

But then…but then, there’s the widow! The widow woman! This widow woman is poor, very poor. She comes to the treasury, not because she has to, or because she must pay her due diligence. She is not coming just to cast in ten percent of her living. She is coming because she wants to come. She desires to give to God. Now, if she were to give ten percent of her living, it would be less than a mite! She would have to cut a coin in sections! Because of her meager allotment in life, she has little to give. She cannot give much. But there is something that she can do. She can give everything! And this she did! Not to be seen of men, or to receive the commendation and approbation of others. She comes only out of love for God—the One who had blessed her and sustained her in her widowhood. She therefore comes with a pure heart, longing to give something to God. And she gives two mites. Now this is a very minuscule amount, but it all that she had, even all her living.

Now, Jesus makes an astounding statement. He asserts that this poor widow woman has cast more in than all they that cast into the treasury. Look at the math here! Look at what the Lord has just said! Her two mites have added up to more than all the combined monetary resources that have been given by all these rich men! Numerically, there is no comparison. But spiritually, there is also no comparison. She cast more in than all they did! She gave all! They gave little! They sacrificed nothing, she sacrificed everything! Now, my friends, are you willing to give all to the Lord? We know that the Lord does not ask that you give every ounce of your living to the church, but it is about the heart posture. Will you give your life? Will you give your time? Will you give your influence? Will you give your life freely to Him? You say, “I have little.” That may be true, but when given into His hands, as was the case with the five loaves and two fishes, it shall be more than all the abundance that could be given by someone whose heart is not with the Lord. Little truly is much! Give it all! It shall be esteemed great in the eyes of God! And there is no limit to His ability and no limit to His purposes that may be accomplished through His work through you. Hold nothing back! Give all that you have! Give all your living!

I wonder if Frances Havergal thought of the widow’s mites when she wrote this hymn:

Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my mo­ments and my days;
Let them flow in cease­less praise.

Take my hands, and let them move
At the im­pulse of Thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be
Swift and beau­ti­ful for Thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, on­ly, for my king.
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with mes­sag­es from Thee.

Take my sil­ver and my gold;
Not a mite would I with­hold.
Take my in­tel­lect, and use
Every pow­er as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will, and make it Thine;
It shall be no long­er mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy roy­al throne.

Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its trea­sure store.
Take my­self, and I will be
Ever, on­ly, all for Thee.

“Please, Lord, take our lives and let them be consecrated to Thee. May we be ever, only, all for Thee. And we shall praise You for it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”