Have you ever felt unseen or insignificant? If so, keep reading…
One summer my family and I traveled to Yellowstone Park and Jackson Hole, Wyoming. One of our goals was to see as many unusual animals as possible. For us that was anything other than a dog, cat, or bird.
During the entire trip, we were on the lookout for moose, elk, buffalo, and other furry beasts with antlers. After several days we fell into the rhythm of looking for groupings of cars stopped alongside the road or crowds clustered in the woods. This signaled a sighting! As if holding up a neon sign, the assembly let us know we needed to stop. There was some magnificent creature we needed to see.
That’s what happened one day when Jesus was in the temple, but it wasn’t Himself He wanted people to see. It was a seemingly insignificant widow woman.
It happened during a Passover week when Jesus and His disciples went to Herod’s temple. The offering bins, or trumpets as they were called, were on the women’s level—the bottom level—number 1 of 5. That’s where Jesus went.
Mark tells us, “Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury (Mark 12:41).
There were 13 offering bins. Picture Jesus pulling up a chair by a certain offering box, knowing exactly which one the widow would come to.
One by one, wealthy attendees tossed their coins into the coffers. I can almost hear the clanging now. The more noise the offering made, the better. “Look at me! Look at me!” the loud clanging coins announced. “I’m giving a lot today. Why? Because I’m important. I’m wealthy. I’m holy. Don’t you wish you could be more like me?”
Then Jesus shows us that the loudest offerings aren’t always the most valuable.
Here she came. A shabbily dressed, worn-down old woman. She timidly approached the offering box and gingerly placed her treasure among the coins. The others “threw.” She “put.”
Two small copper coins—the smallest coins in circulation in Palestine—just a fraction of a penny. Two of these lepton, as they were called, were worth 1/64 of a denarius, a typical day’s wage. But in reality, her coins were worth more than any day’s wages. They were all she had—and Jesus knew it.
Do you ever feel that other people don’t really care about what is going on in your life? Do you feel insignificant in the grand scheme of things? I am sure this widow must have felt less than. I’m nothing. I have nothing. I am invisible to these men with flowing robes and tasseled garb.
Ever been there? I have. But she wasn’t insignificant or less than…not to Jesus. He sees what the world overlooks.
“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’” (Mark 12:43-44).
The widow had two copper coins. I wonder what I would have done in the same situation. I think I would have been tempted to just give one to the temple treasury and keep one for myself. One for You. One for me.
The widow did not give one coin and keep one for herself. She gave all she had, fully trusting that God would take care of her every need. Commentators have pointed out that when Jesus said, “She out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had” (Luke 21:4), the word “livelihood” is the Greek word bios. Which means she gave her life itself.
Imagine the picture: Jesus calls the disciples over to see the widow and her gift. Thirteen men gather round the offering box as Jesus shines the spotlight on this woman’s sacrificial act. Now, what else do you see? I see other people migrating to the scene like my family in Yellowstone.
“What’s so important?” “What’s going on?” “What are you men looking at?” Then Jesus lifts His hand and directs their attention to one of God’s magnificent creations. Ta-da! She simply nods, smiles, and walks away. If they’d had a cell phone, I think they would have taken her picture!
Jesus has a way of making much out of a little. How precious that Jesus used the gift of a seemingly insignificant woman to teach the disciples a significant lesson. She became a “look and learn” example to this burly bunch of men—and to you and me.
Jesus overruled the tightly held views of a society that kept women hidden in the fabric of life and blending inconspicuously into the background.
He took the fearful and forgotten and transformed them into the faithful and forever remembered.
He still uses seemingly insignificant people to do amazingly significant work.
While she might have felt worthless in the world’s eyes, she was priceless in God’s. And friend, so are you.
God, thank You for using seemingly insignificant people to do significant work. Thank You for shining the spotlight on women all through Jesus’ story. I pray You will show me ways that I can make a difference in someone’s life today. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
✨ Reflection:✨
What small act of faith might God be inviting you to offer Him today? Leave a comment and let’s share.
Digging Deeper
We cleared out the publisher’s warehouse during out winter sale! But Never Less Than is now back in stock!
If you’ve ever felt less than because of your past or present circumstances, or your gender as a woman then this book is for you! Never Less Than: Living Empowered, Esteemed, and Equipped When the World Tells You Otherwise, goes through every encounter Jesus had with a woman and shows how He broke a cultural rule….every time. The God-made-man broke the man-made-rules to elevate and esteem women in a culture that regarded them as property rather than people. This is a message that your daughters and granddaughters need to hear.
Looking for a summer Bible study! This book includes a Bible Study Guide in the back!
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Comments 22
Sharon, I love how you shed new light on a familiar passage. I don’t remember noticing that the wealthy “threw” in their coins, while the poor widow “put” in her coins. Even though she quietly gave, Jesus saw her and she is remembered for her sacrifice. So many beautiful (and convicting)nuggets in this short passage. The Word of the Lord is alive and active!!
To totally trust and lean on Him!
That He knows my every need before I ask and just to trust Him and that He will work everything out for my good!
Thank you Jesus!❤
Author
Amen.
One day I got a message from God. I call it appreciation gift. I bought an assortment of THANK YOU notes. On the inside, I wrote a simple note an added a personal note – like thank you for being here today, or I appreciate your being here today, etc. I also added a $5.00 or a $10.00 as a gift. It is amazing to see the responses.
I thank God for giving me the opportunity to bless the people who go to work, even on the worst day.
Author
Isn’t it so much fun!
WOW Love that. God had put on my heart to pray for people who are asking for prayers on the radio stations like KLove, 95.1, 91.9 and 105.1. Love the story of Job where He prayed for others. I’ve been focusing on my problems instead of Focusing on God
Thank you, Sharon.
The small act of faith that the Lord is telling me is to delight in Him.-
Psalm 37;4.
Author
I love that!
Sharon, I’m grateful…for God using You to pour, expound upon his Goodness it so many ways. You’re truly a blessing. God’s Continued Blessings upon you.
Author
Thank you so much!
Thank you for this devotional. The fact the widow gave all she had and didn’t keep any for herself spoke to me. I’m not giving all I have away but have been struggling with the fact that I have too much stuff, clothes etc yet have a hard time parting with it. My small act of faith is to donate the clothes, etc. I never wear or use to others in need.. i want to be more like the widow and give freely..
I felt led to take a bottle of water to the worker at the Salvation Army donation truck. He was filled with appreciation and thankfulness. I was blessed by his joy! Thank you Holy Spirit for the heart nudge.
I’m sure I would’ve held on to both my coins. It pains me to confess that but I’m convicted. My greatest fear is not having enough to live on. I’m sure she feared that too. But her faith was stronger than her fear! LORD, increase my faith so much that it becomes STRONGER than my fear. In JESUS’ name, Amen. Thank you for sharing this, Sharon.
Amen. Very beautiful illustration.
Today is my 87th birthday. Perhaps I should give gifts to others that bless me. I so appreciate your messages. They bless me ! Thank you Sharon. 🙂
Author
Happy birthday Grace! Big hugs!
I decided to buy a bottle of cold water and a protein cookie to give to the homeless man who stands on the corner of the entrance on my way into the supermarket. I stopped and handed him the cookie and the bottle. I apologized that I don’t carry cash. He said “Ma’m I appreciate this more than cash!” I had a 7 minute conversation with this man while waiting for the light to turn green. He can’t get disability. He worked in construction all his life and his body is worn out. He is only 60 so can’t get SS yet. I think he appreciated someone who listens.
The small gift or act of faith that I offered him today was to continue to “point and show” my family(household) to him like he told me to or tried my best to by telling them not to give up on him, to keep trusting in, leaning and depending on him because he has this and us; on top of that telling or letting the young boys(my nephews) in our home know before they went to bed that, ‘God loves them and don’t let nobody tell them different.’ I still need help with this faith walk and keeping this up by staying obedient to him as he finally causes me to operate in my gift, purpose and/or calling because I feel as if they have been looking at me through the wrong and different lense(s); in which it seems like a ‘transfer of a spirit’ from satan himself or another person/certain people but I pray for a more spiritual view and view point in them and in me too will be released and override anything that devil is doing or trying to do and misconstrue by wanting your own circle to come against you!
This is for me. Thank You for sharing. I will share that “God Loves You and don’t let nobody tell You different” with my 19 year old Son who is incarcerated. He is getting out in December which is a gift from God because they could have given him more time. God got him. Prayer changes outcomes. I Love that You pray for a more Spiritual view. Our Abba Loves us. Isaiah 65:24 Before we call, He will answer. I want God’s will Nothing More Nothing Less Nothing else. Be Bless my sister.
Do you ever feel that other people don’t really care about what is going on in your life? Do you feel insignificant in the grand scheme of things? I am sure this widow must have felt less than. I’m nothing. I have nothing. I am invisible to these men with flowing robes and tasseled garb.
The widow woman, who had given all she possessed to survive was most likely aware that Jesus was present in the temple. Jesus was observing everyone placing their coins in the temple treasury. I believe the widow was aware of her poverty and her dependency on Jesus to provide for her daily needs.
However, I don’t think she felt insignificant because she understood her place in life and it didn’t matter to her.
But I can envision moments of loneliness, which I believe we all have experienced.
I am Thankful for you Sharon
I appreciate your biblical knowledge in your books.
This is my first time reading one of your blogs. I love how you illustrated this lesson.
He sees what the world overlooks was just what I needed to see today. I feel insignificant daily, hourly, all the time in my marriage. But I am what God says I am and He sees the best in me when my husband doesn’t and when he wants me to see myself as those things.
I need to be like the widow and give my all to God every coin instead of just half to hold on for a “just in case” moment.
Thank you! I will be subscribing for more!
Total believe and trust which is so difficult for us