Mark 12:38-44

12:38 As he taught, he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces,

12:39 and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets!

12:40 They devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation."

12:41 He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums.

12:42 A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny.

12:43 Then he called his disciples and said to them, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury.

12:44 For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."

NRSV (ComLec) (c) 1989 NCC

INTRODUCTION:

A businessman who needed millions of dollars to clinch an important deal went to the temple to pray for the money. By chance he sat next to a man who was praying for $100 to pay an urgent debt.

The businessman took out his wallet and pressed $100 into the other man's hand. Overjoyed, the man got up and left the temple.

The businessman then closed his eyes and prayed: "And now, Lord, that I have your undivided attention . . ."

The wealthy individuals in the temple thought they had the Lord's undivided attention. Boy were they in for a surprise. Especially after the poor widow showed up with only two mites.

(Show what a mite looks like.) Have you ever seen what we commonly call "The Widow's Mite?" I've got two here that I picked up on one of my trips to Israel. See how small they are? They are small but not insignificant. And they tell an amazing story.

I. THE SETTING:

A. Jesus and the disciples gathered at the Temple. Jesus was teaching and there were crowds all around. It wasn't unusual for teachers to sit where they were sitting. Jesus had chosen to sit in the area between the Court of the Gentiles and the Court of the Women in an area called the Beautiful Gate, this way, both Jews and Gentiles alike could hear his teaching.

In this area known as the Court of the Women, there were thirteen contraptions called "the trumpets." They were called "the trumpets" because that's what they were shaped like. They were big funnel sort of contraptions into which the people threw their offerings. Each one had a special purpose, such as to buy corn or wine or oil for the sacrifices. They were collection boxes used to support the day to day expenses of the Temple. They had the same sort of purpose as our special offerings.

As you can see, these offering contraptions were in a more or less public place. Some people, especially some of the wealthy scribes and Pharisees, would come along and chunk in large contributions consisting of lots of coins that would rattle and clank and make all kinds of noise as they rolled around the mouth and then down the neck of "the trumpet." Now, there was and is nothing wrong with large contributions. However, these folks threw in their large contributions with lots of fanfare and noise, hoping that "the trumpet" WOULD sound so that everyone would notice just how much they had given.

B. So, picture what is going on. The Temple was always busy. There was always a slough of things going on. Not only were people making sacrifices and teaching classes and preaching, but just outside the gate where Jesus sat were the money changers and the merchants with their birds and goats and lambs for the sacrifices. Plus, the Temple was a tourist stop. You couldn't go to Jerusalem without stopping at the Temple. Everybody and their uncle stopped to see the Temple. Families came and gawked, while their relatives described all that was going on around them.

Let me try to describe what this part of the Temple sounded and smelled like. Imagine Hulen Mall on Christmas Eve with all the cash registers going at once.

Add to this the sale barn with all the animal disagreements, noises and smells and plus five or six auctioneers trying to outsell each other.

Pour in the crowd at a the football games on Friday nights.

Then add the smell of about a dozen bad greasy spoons, coupled with a few candle, potpourri and cheap perfume shops.

Add about hundred groups filled with the excitement and confusion of a trip to Six Flags.

Throw in about two dozen Sunday School classes in hot debate, one or two T.V. Evangelists on a real roll. Then stir it all up and yell, "Fire!"

From what I've read, this is pretty close to the atmosphere of the Temple on a good day. Jesus and the disciples sat in the midst of all this noise and confusion, teaching while a widow made her way to the gate with her meager offering. Over this cacophony of noise Jesus heard this widow's two small coins go into one of "the trumpets."

Partly it was odd because of all the noise, but it was even odder because they were two such small coins and they wouldn't have made much noise at all. And the widow wouldn't have wanted to draw attention to herself. You see all she gave was the bare minimum gift that could even be given as prescribed by Rabbinic Law. Not only that, it was only one eighth of what was to be given to any traveling beggar asking for a handout. No, the widow wouldn't have wanted anyone to see that she had less than any common beggar.

But our Savior knew. Our Savior heard her gift of those two small coins above the cooing of the doves, the baaing of the sheep and even above the braying of the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus heard the poor widow's gift of those two coins as they quietly jingled against "the trumpet."

No one else heard them hit, but the sound of those coins resonated throughout heaven and Jesus heard. Jesus heard and praised her by saying, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."

II. THE DIFFERENCE:

A. Now what does that have to do with us? Nothing and everything all at the same time. It has nothing to do with us at all if we don't listen and let the message grow in our hearts. But it has everything to do with us if we do.

There are two families in our Church who obviously heard this passage at some point in their life. As a result, the seed planted through this passage sprouted, began to take root and grow. It grew to full maturity and bore much fruit. And we are the ones who have harvested the bounty of that fruit.

The families that I'm talking about are Earl and Lena Chedester and Stanley Gregory. Most of you know more than I'll ever know about these two families. But the one thing that stands out in their lives is their love for the Church and this Church in particular. It touched and changed their lives. And because of that they chose to give their all to this congregation in the form of leaving their estate to the Church.

The Chedester Estate, in the amount of about $60,000, helped us purchase the new property on 174 for our relocation. And the Stanley Gregory Estate will help us build Phase One of our new campus. We don't know yet how much the total of the estate will be because there is still some crystal being sold and the house is still for sale. But currently we have realized about $87,000 due to the generosity of Mr. Stanley Gregory.

These two families didn't have much in the way of worldly possessions. Especially if you compare them to the folks who are well to do. What they did have was enough. And through their love for God and this Church, they provided "all that they had", just like the widow. We plan on honoring that in the new building. I'm not sure whether it will be with a plaque or cornerstone or a paving stone. But they will be honored and remembered as part of the foundation of the Church.

B. Two brief things and then we'll be finished.

First: If you haven't had an opportunity to make a pledge to the Building Campaign, the purple pledge cards are still available. And if you haven't had an opportunity to write your name on a river stone wrapped in your prayers that will go into the foundation, the stones are still available. Simply take a marker, sign the stone, wrap your hands around it and offer up prayers for our future. Then place it in the basket.

Second: If you've ever wanted to be like the widow, if you've ever wondered how you could give more to the church, in your bulletin is a flyer that discusses planned giving. Look that over. Commit it to prayer and make your decision. No pressure from anyone. You just look and make all the decisions.

CONCLUSION:

Giving is an individual thing. It's something Sacred and Holy between you and God. There's no magic involved other than the magic of a changed life and heart wanting to share everything with God.

There was a young boy who suddenly realized the truth of the faith. He understood how much God loved him and why Jesus died for him and was overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude. When the ushers started passing the offering plates, the boy searched his pockets frantically for even a penny to put in. But to no avail. He was broke but he didn't give up. When the Offering Plate came by, he took it, laid in on the floor of aisle, stepped into the plate and said, "Jesus, I don't have any money to give, so instead I give you me."

Isn't that basically what the widow said with her gift? And the Chedesters and Stanley Gregory. "I give you me." Isn't that really what we all say through our giving? Don't forget the widow, the Chedesters and Stanely Gregory, They Gave Their All.

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