Rich Rulers and Poor Widows
Posted by Dion Todd July 9th, 2023 2,954 Views 0 Comments
Rich Rulers and Poor Widows from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.
The Apostle Paul once did a fundraiser for the church in Judea and collected financial gifts from the Christians in Macedonia and Greece. It was financial aid, for the church in Jerusalem was being persecuted and had fallen on hard times while others were doing well.
The Christians at Corinth had vowed to help, so Paul wrote to remind them that Titus and some others would soon be coming to pick up the gift they promised and to have it ready for them. I love how practical, open, and honest Paul is as he explains the importance of their gift. This isn't a spiritual gift, and Paul doesn't try and make it one. He is talking about them giving up some of their money to help others and their attitude about it.
(2 Corinthians 9:1–2 AMP) NOW ABOUT the offering that is [to be made] for the saints (God’s people in Jerusalem), it is quite superfluous that I should write you; For I am well acquainted with your willingness (your readiness and your eagerness to promote it) and I have proudly told about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia (most of Greece) has been prepared since last year for this contribution; and [consequently] your enthusiasm has stimulated the majority of them.
(2 Corinthians 9:3–5 AMP) Still, I am sending the brethren [on to you], lest our pride in you should be made an empty boast in this particular case, and so that you may be all ready, as I told them you would be; Lest, if [any] Macedonians should come with me and find you unprepared [for this generosity], we, to say nothing of yourselves, be humiliated for our being so confident. That is why I thought it necessary to urge these brethren to go to you before I do and make arrangements in advance for this bountiful, promised gift of yours, so that it may be ready, not as an extortion [wrung out of you] but as a generous and willing gift.
Paul didn't want to have to wring the money out of them like extortion, but for them to give what they had promised with a cheerful heart. As an Apostle, he had experienced both sides of the issue. That was just good church housekeeping, but now, the message starts to get interesting:
(2 Corinthians 9:6 AMP) [Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to someone] will also reap generously and with blessings.
There was never a doubt that their gifts would be multiplied and returned to them by God. Paul uses an example of a farmer planting seeds in the ground to illustrate them giving their money to the Lord's work. The more seed a farmer plants in the ground, the greater the harvest he will receive, and those who gave nothing would receive back nothing.
Both math and giving are so logical. Consider this:
- A $1 gift with a 1,000-fold return is $1,000.
- A $1,000 gift with a 1,000-fold return is $1,000,000.
- But a gift of $0 multiplied by a 1,000-fold return is $0.
Giving nothing will always return nothing. It is sad to see so many Christians living in poverty, and it is a vicious cycle to break out of. Because you have nothing, you cling to it and rake, scrape, and take everything you can get and feel like you can spare nothing. I have been there myself, but learning to give generously is what opened my cell door. The Apostle Paul continues:
(2 Corinthians 9:7 AMP) Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving].
God loves a cheerful giver who helps others. Each Christian here was to give, and no one was to come before God empty-handed, not even a poor widow (Exodus 34:16). Remember the widow in the temple with two mites? In perspective, two mites are 1% of a denarius, so they would be 1% of a day’s wage for a laborer today. Though the widow could have kept one coin for herself, and no one would have blamed her, she generously gave them both.
(Luke 21:1–4 ESV) Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
Jesus watched how people gave and said this poor widow had given more than ALL of them put together. It was a sacrifice. Oh, the heart is a great equalizer before God. The poor person in poverty can serve and please God just as much as the rich if they will do it. Remember the rich young ruler that came to Jesus but went away sad?
(Matthew 19:20–23 NKJV) The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Compare that man's story to the poor widow above, and which do you think was more pleasing to God? The rich ruler or the poor widow? Being too poor to give or too rich are both excuses, and God doesn't accept excuses as an offering. He provides an equal opportunity for everyone.
We should remember that God doesn't need our money. He can load your boat down with such a catch of fish that it begins to sink (Luke 5:7). He can bring tax money out of a fish's mouth (Matthew 17:27). He rained bread from heaven on the Israelites for forty years (Exodus 16:35). Jesus fed between 15,000 to 20,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish (Matthew 14:17–19). (There were 5,000 men plus women and children.)
It's about your heart. God is generous, extravagant, above and beyond, and He wants us to be like Him. He doesn't want His people living in poverty and desires to be able to trust you with more wealth. The Apostle Paul continues with a promise:
(2 Corinthians 9:8 AMP) And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].
God is able... I love that! Grace is like oil on gears. It makes things run without friction, fun, simple, and easy. Things smoothly fall into place and work out like they should. He can provide an abundance for every good work. But the Apostle Paul said it best:
(2 Corinthians 9:6 AMP) [Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to someone] will also reap generously and with blessings.
You can pray this with me if you like:
Prayer: Heavenly Father, please open my mind to understand Your Scriptures. Help me be in tune with what You are doing on Earth today. I want more of You in my life. Please lead and guide me into all that You have for me. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!