All you have

Mark 12:41-44

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. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."

Coming to God when we are feeling spiffy and joyful is easy. Trying to self-encourage ourselves when we are down is such a painful task. I dread those days where I go into church attempting to fit in as everyone claps, moves and sings while I do it without a joyful heart because of the horrible circumstances around me. More so as we are  wrecked by the emotions that render us feeling miserable in the house of God and guilty of coming in with an imperfect condition.

Yet, somehow I don't seem to recall that we are commanded to come to God's house with a perfect condition, ready to excitedly praise. As long as we come with the intention to honour Him with what we have, however beaten down we are, God doesn't mind.

As I reflect at how Christ viewed the poor widow, I really wondered how she must have felt as she gave him all she had. In her impoverished state, she steps into the house of God and still chooses to give what she had when she could have just bypassed the offering and kept it for any scrap of food. For that I'm really amazed at her devotion to honour God.

What about you and me when we are still able but not feeling good? Throw up our hands in surrender and walk away until we feel like it? No, we don't give up. Similiar to the widow, we may shuffle our feet and feel lesser than those who around us. But we must still trust, open our hearts and bare it to a God who sees and cares. We must choose to believe because our life in God is not hollow. We emulate the widow and arise to elect to give all we have. He has shown that he observes and looks out for the poor who give all they have.

Why? Because God is faithful even when we are not up to the mark. That's what makes God, God. Because God is love. 


blessings,
M.

 "The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel.  Again you will take up your tambourines and go out to dance with the joyful."(Jeremiah 31:3-4)