Left Behind

Jesus is situated by the Temple treasury, a chest where offerings and tithes are received. He witnesses the wealthy giving a lot of money. Then Jesus sees a poor woman cast in two mites. A mite is a copper coin, the lowest denomination in Jewish currency. It is analogous to a US penny, but understood to be of lesser value.

After seeing this, Jesus calls His disciples and says:

“Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 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” (Mark 12:43-44)

“Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.” (Luke 21:3-4)

The words “want” and “penury” come from the same Greek root word, “Hystereo” which means, “to be left behind”.

Let’s think about this for a moment. It’s a different mindset. The woman wasn’t considered to be poor, as in financially lacking or disadvantaged or oppressed. But rather within the kingdom of God this woman is considered to be left behind.

Let’s examine this further. This woman also, “cast in all the living that she had”.

We think of the word “living” as in the phrase, “making a living”, which means to earn money. But the word “living” in both the Mark and Luke versions is derived from the Greek word, “Bio”. It means “life”!

This woman has made the ultimate sacrifice. She didn’t throw in two small, almost worthless coins into the treasury. This woman threw in her entire life. She gave it all up, she gave herself up in faith and trust in God. Even though she had been left behind, she was still giving everything to God.

The Bible doesn’t tell us what happened next. The story line changes immediately to the disciples showing off the “goodly stones” to Jesus that were used to build the Temple.

What would Jesus do? What should we as Christians do in the situation above?

We know that we are to love our neighbor as our self. We also know that we should not hate a brother and “not suffer sin upon them”. (Leviticus 19:17). Jesus said blessed are the merciful (Matthew 5:7). We are to carry each other’s burden’s (Galatians 6:2). We are to give freely (Matthew 10:8), to be, “Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.” (Romans 12:13).

Who helps the person in need? All throughout the Bible it points to one person. Us. We help. We don’t pass the responsibility off to another. It is not the responsibility of the government or anyone or anything else. It is our responsibility as a Christian to help however we can and to the best of our ability.

“Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which he hath given thee.” (Deuteronomy 16:17)

We also have to understand who we are helping. Don’t let the offense of the poor and indigent stop you from helping them. It is easy to say it is their own fault. Give!

“He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.” (Proverbs 19:17).

“Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matthew 25:40).

It is easy not to give because you believe that you are being scammed. We might not know how our help, gift, or money will be used. But if your heart and spirit are motivating us to give, then give! Don’t disobey God because you think better of a situation.

“….Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:45-46).

We live, move and have our being in faith in Jesus Christ. This is not an academic proposition. Faith eliminates doubt. Thinking creates it. So when God calls you to do, do so in faith and don’t try to think or logic it out in your head.

The poor woman was left behind. She gave her life to Jesus. She gave her last two mites, her worldly wealth over to God. She is there in the House of God. What would you do with this poor woman?

Give! Help!

Bill Hitchcock