To Live On

Read This Week: Mark 12

Jesus 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. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, 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 12:41-44 NIV

Mark 12 is packed full of biblical and spiritual truth that we can apply to our lives every day. It is another example of the theme of Jesus’ actions demonstrated along with his teachings. He teaches in a parable to communicate that He alone is the cornerstone of faith, then practically imparts ethical lessons about our responsibilities as citizens and our duty to love God first, and then love other people as ourselves. In between, Jesus teaches us that He is the Messiah and not King David and that we should be vigilant and aware of false teachers that say otherwise and exploit people. This chapter is a theological and practical tour de force.

Perhaps its most poignant teaching comes at the end of the section with the story of the widow’s offering. It is an example and a warning against pride, especially pride revolving around self-importance, wealth, and stature. The Scriptures show us through this poor widow that if a person is or feels important because of their socio-economic status, money, power, profession, or title, their importance is fake. The heart and character of a person are what make them valuable. And those things cannot be earned, bought, acquired, or gifted. They come from walking with God, emulating His heart, and following His word.

There were chests around the walls of the court that people would drop their money and offerings in. It was in the open, so the crowds could see who gave and what they gave. The rich and pious would make a big deal out of their giving so that people would revere and praise them for their bountiful gifts. Verse 41 says:

Jesus 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.

Then, the poor widow comes along and puts in her offering, and it encompasses all that she has. It is everything that she has to live. Jesus is not impressed with the rich and religious, but he is humbled and moved by her sacrifice. He tells his disciples in verses 43-44:

Truly I tell you, 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.

The rich gave out of their abundance, but the poor widow gave all she had. It was not about the portion for her; it was about the proportion. The wealthy gave a small contribution because of their riches, but the widow gave her life. She gave all she had to live on, knowing that Christ and her offering to God were all she needed.

May we understand the same. May we realize that Christ is all we need to live. He is all we need to have significance, worth, importance, and riches beyond anything this world can offer. In Christ, what we live on is eternally sufficient to live life.

14 Comments

  1. Heidi on February 12, 2022 at 9:15 am

    Mark 12:28-34 says, Then one of the scribes [an expert in Mosaic Law] came up and listened to them arguing [with one another], and noticing that Jesus answered them well, asked Him, “Which commandment is first and most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The first and most important one is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul (life), and with all your mind (thought, understanding), and with all your strength.’ This is the second: ‘You shall [unselfishly] [h]love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” The scribe said to Him, “Admirably answered, Teacher; You truthfully stated that He is One, and there is no other but Him; and to love Him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to [unselfishly] love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he answered thoughtfully and intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”

    • Jason on February 20, 2022 at 11:21 am

      There is no other commandment greater than these. May we embrace these words of Christ, the greatest of commandments, and live them out every day.

  2. Heidi on February 12, 2022 at 9:17 am

    This is a great song to sing every day called “This Is My Desire”:

    This is my desire to honor you
    Lord, with all my heart I worship you
    All I have within me I give You praise
    All that I adore is in you

    Lord, I give you my heart
    I give you my soul
    I live for you alone
    Every breath that I take
    Every moment I’m awake
    Lord have Your way in me

    Lord, I give you my heart
    I give you my soul
    I live for you alone
    Every breath that I take
    Every moment I’m awake
    Lord have Your way in me

    This is my desire to honor you
    Lord, with all my heart I worship you
    All I have within me I give You praise
    All that I adore is in you

    Lord, I give you my heart
    I give you my soul
    I live for you alone
    Every breath that I take
    Every moment I’m awake
    Lord have Your way in me

    Lord, I give you my heart
    I give you my soul
    I live for you alone
    Every breath that I take
    Every moment I’m awake
    Lord have Your way in me

    This is my desire..
    I give you my heart, I give you my soul….

    Lord, I give you my heart
    I give you my soul
    I live for you alone
    Every breath that I take
    Every moment I’m awake
    Lord have Your way in me

    Lord, I give you my heart
    I give you my soul
    I live for you alone
    Every breath that I take
    Every moment I’m awake
    Lord have Your way in me

    Lord, I give you my heart
    I give you my soul
    I live for you alone
    Every breath that I take
    Every moment I’m awake
    Lord have Your way in me.

    • Jason on February 20, 2022 at 10:46 am

      Thank you for posting this, Heidi. This is one of my all-time favorites and I haven’t heard it in a while and reconnecting to the words and message provided a moving time of personal worship for me. I appreciate you feeling compelled to share with us.

  3. Ken on February 12, 2022 at 9:26 am

    I love what everyone wrote. It’s all about the love, isn’t it? Our love for God and our love for each other. It’s our love that is heard when we speak and it’s our love that is seen in what we do. May we all grow in God’s love.

    • Jason on February 20, 2022 at 10:30 am

      This is great, Ken! It is all about the love and I appreciate how you encouraged us to grow in God’s love because it is through that beautiful process that we can better love others.

  4. Jeri on February 13, 2022 at 9:46 am

    God gave me this from Mark 12 verse 42:

    You shall give to God freely.
    And your heart shall not be grudging when you give to God
    Because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.

    For their will never cease to be poor in the land.
    You shall open wide your hand to the needy and the poor
    Not only does God love cheerful givers, but He also blesses them.

    What that means to me is that God is watching, he cares not about the amount, but about the heart. Just like the widow who was supposed to be hopeless, yet she found hope in the Lord.

    • Jason on February 20, 2022 at 10:32 am

      Wonderful post, Jeri. This line is powerful: Not only does God love cheerful givers, but He also blesses them. I pray that we can all capture this Spirit from God when we give to others knowing that He loves this heart attitude and blesses it beyond what we can ask or think.

  5. Alma on February 14, 2022 at 1:34 am

    God gave me a song from Mark 12 called “Worship”:

    We worship you, we worship you, we worship you, our Lord
    Your love is overwhelming and brings your children together from all around the world

    We are like the stars above at night
    Glowing bright and so proud to be a servant

    Seeking you, seeking you, we are seeking you, our Lord
    Through the darkness and through the light, your love never changes

    We worship you, we worship you, we worship you, our Lord. Amen.

    God has a plan for all of us. We are his children who he loves. Don’t get upset just talk to him he truly understands. Always remember he will never forsake you.

    • Jason on February 20, 2022 at 10:34 am

      A beautiful song this week, Alma. I especially liked these lines:

      Seeking you, seeking you, we are seeking you, our Lord
      Through the darkness and through the light, your love never changes

      Thank you for these words and for reminding us that God’s love is constant and never changing through the good times, bad times, and times when things are just okay. He is so good and consistent like that and it brings joy and peace.

      • Alma on March 5, 2022 at 8:05 pm

        Thank you Jason, your such a good encourager. I love we get to minister to each other and others. God is so good.

  6. Heidi on February 18, 2022 at 1:27 pm

    It all starts with desire. Desiring a love for Father God and Jesus in our life, when you know you need them in your life. He first loved us and we are so blessed to have such a love, and knowing he is for us 24-7. When we learn how much they love us, we just want to love on others for Him.

    But God doesn’t want us to be in relationships that are not good for us either, we do need to learn the difference. God is all about reconciliation in the right way, it’s important to go through a process so it’s healthy and good for everyone.

    God is all about Love. He loves it when we love Him with our whole heart, and seek Him first. Thank you, Father God, for Your love!

    • Jason on February 20, 2022 at 11:16 am

      There are so many good points in here, Heidi. Like I said to Ken’s great comment, I appreciate how you point out that growth in God’s love and understanding empowers us to love others deeper and more effectively. That is such a needed perspective for us when it comes to loving our neighbors.

      I also connected to this thought: God doesn’t want us to be in relationships that are not good for us either, we do need to learn the difference. God is all about reconciliation in the right way, it’s important to go through a process so it’s healthy and good for everyone.

      This is so relevant and often we confuse God’s love with exposing ourselves to toxicity and unhealthy relationships and discerning the difference is so important to our lives and spiritual walks. Thank you for allowing God to speak this through you.

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