Scripture to Read: Luke 21:1-4
yThe days of Jesus’s crucifixion were drawing near and Jesus was in Jerusalem, teaching. God had Luke record this in Luke 21:1–4, “And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury. 2 And He saw a poor widow putting in two small copper coins. 3 And He said, ‘Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them; 4 for they all out of their surplus put into the offering; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on.’” Many people can get so focused on how the world gives that they miss what God is teaching. Jesus took the opportunity to teach His disciples that God does not focus on outward appearance but on a person’s heart; in other words, God sees everyone’s true motives. Many people came and gave sizable gifts to the treasury. Most assuredly, many did so when everyone could see what they were giving so others would be impressed by how much they had given. Then, the widow, with only two coins, came and she laid her gift into the treasury. Jesus quickly pointed out that the widow gave more than anyone else because she put everything she had to live on into the treasury to honor God Almighty. Jesus again encouraged His followers not to cling to the things of this world, knowing they are so temporary (Luke 12:21, Luke 16:1–15, Luke 16:19–31, Luke 18:18–30, and Luke 19:8). Riches are not wrong, but they can cause us to stumble.
Challenge & Application
Why is it foolish to build up treasures for ourselves on earth while neglecting treasures in heaven?
How can we guard our hearts so the stuff of this world doesn’t become a stumbling block?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!