My Favorite Verses - Vol V (Feb 17 to Jun 17)

Luke 21:2-4 … To Give more than All
(04/20/2017)
“Jesus also saw a poor widow put in two small, copper coins and he said:
Truly, I tell you, this woman has given more than all of them; for they have
contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has given all she
had to live on.” ~ Luke 21:2-4
This passage brilliantly illustrates one of the primary principles of The Way of
Christ – namely, that the more difficult a Gift is to Give, the more potent & worthy
it is once Given … This Truth goes for monetary gifts like those mentioned here
(two lepton -- the smallest coins in circulation at the time), and it goes for gifts of
Forgiveness like those mentioned in Matthew 18:21-22 (i.e. “forgive 70 times 7
times” = forgive everyone endlessly & completely) and Gifts of Love like those
mentioned in Matthew 5:43-48 & Luke 10:29-37 as well (i.e. “Love your enemies”).
In addition, note that the word for “treasury” found in Luke 21:1 refers to the
13 tithing containers utilized by the Temple to receive offerings, as well as a
specific room in the Temple itself (probably where Jesus was preaching in John 8:20).
In both instances the Human Soul is alluded to – after all, “where your Treasure is,
there your Heart will be also” (see Matthew 6:21 & Luke 12:34 – and also Jesus‟
allusion to tithing with Love instead of money in Matthew 23:23 et al) … Note as well
the relevant practical Truth here – namely, that Giving is fulfilled the moment the
coins hit the coffer, irrespective of what the preacher does therewith thereafter.
That having been said, we do intuitively know who actually needs our Gifts and
who doesn‟t – and preachers invariably don‟t need them. In fact, gifts of money to
"spiritual leaders" actually hampers their ability to share The Way with others, and
thus does them no service (again, apply the wisdom of Matthew 23:23 here). As such,
it is far better for us to tithe to our communities instead – with things over money,
time over things, and Love (our Selves) over time.
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