The Widow’s Mite and how to help when you need help

Giving what you don’t have

We live in interesting times that make it very difficult to say no to things that seem good. It seems like a good idea to use credit to give to others. It is an honorable thing and I believe that there is often a great motive behind it, but I can’t help but think that it isn’t the best way.

I hear stories all the time of people trying to give something that they don’t have to others. I remember from swimming lessons that you shouldn’t try to save someone drowning by jumping in the water with them – because you will both be pulled under. They trained us to stand on the side of the pool and throw a life-preserver to the person drowning.

While there are exceptions to this, I think this principle often applies to our finances. I have received emails from readers who couldn’t afford to pay their mortgage payment because they were allowing friends to live with them for free. There is always a really sad story attached to these situations which makes it that much more difficult to say “no”, but that is a great example of someone treading water trying to save someone drowning. Ultimately they both are likely to go under.

Parable of the Widow’s Mites

³⁸As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, ³⁹and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. ⁴⁰They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.”

⁴¹Jesus 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. ⁴²But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins,worth only a fraction of a penny.

⁴³Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. ⁴⁴They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”   – Mark 12:38-44

Comparing the parable of the Widow’s Mites to today, the striking difference I see is that today we live in a world where credit is available to most of us at all times. If we aren’t careful credit can be used as a substitute for faith and many times it causes people to feel compelled to give what they don’t have. In the parable of the Widow’s Mite, the widow was praised for giving everything she had – it turned out it was only a fraction of a penny. But Jesus seemed to really get a kick out of it – and was much more impressed than how much all the rich guys dropped in the bucket.

I can’t help but wonder what He would have said if she would have borrowed some money from a friend in order to put more in the bucket? Would He have been more pleased? Or would He have told her not to do that and to give what she had? What do you think?