(Mark 12: 38-44)

Perhaps you've heard the story about the pastor who was urging his flock to stronger stewardship. Reminding them of all God's gifts, he exclaimed, "Shouldn't you respond likewise? Every member of this church ought to give a tenth of his income to the Lord." One member was so inspired that he interrupted: "Ten percent is not enough! Every one of us should give a twentieth!"

Such inspiration is rare. We tend to avoid discussions of giving wherever possible, yet the Bible is filled with references to the issue of material possessions and our attitude toward them. In fact, there are more than 2,000 verses in the Bible, and 500 in the Gospels alone, which deal with the subject of money.

In this text, Jesus offers insight into the kind of giving that pleases God -- the kind of giving that is authentic.

I. Authentic Giving Is Properly Motivated

The Pharisees were highly religious, but many of them had motives which were suspect. Jesus points out that much of their religious activity was done purely for show -- to impress others with their exhibitions of piety. He illustrates their vanity by pointing out the way in which they wore long, flowing robes, which were a sign of nobility (since they were not functional for work). Jesus also cites their greed and corruption, as seen by their willingness to exploit widows for their own purpose.

In contrast was the widow who came quietly to give her gift. She came and went with no show, unnoticed by anyone -- except God.

II. Authentic Giving Is Sacrificial

The 'widow's mite" was a coin called a lepton. That literally meant "a thin one." It was the smallest coin in circulation, and two of them dropped in the collection were together worth only a small fraction of a penny. Yet it was all this woman had, and she gave it sacrificially to God.

It's not the amount of the gift that pleases God, but the cost of it to the giver. As one commentator has noted, God does not count the amount on the face of the check, but the balance left in the checkbook. Are we willing to give sacrificially? What pleasure are we willing to do without in order to support some part of God's work through His church?

III. Authentic Giving Is Done In Faith

Can you imagine what it must have been like for this poor woman to take the last tiny coins she owned and give them to God? Few of us can, because we usually make sure there's plenty left after we give. Yet she gave in faith, trusting God to provide for her needs.

The farmer's wife was furious. Her husband had just taken the last three dollars in his pocket and placed them in the offering plate, and she could barely restrain herself until they got to the car. "How could you do that?" she demanded. "We've got to buy milk for the baby, we've got to buy food!" He quietly replied, "I felt it was something we should do. The Lord will take care of us." "Well, He won't be buying milk for the baby," she grumbled. The next day, weeks before it was expected, an insurance check was placed in that mailbox. God does provide when we respond in faith.