Luke 20:45-47; Luke 21:1-4

Luke 20:45-47; Luke 21:1-4 While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.” As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

How do you serve your Lord? Out of riches or out of poverty? Are you willing to put your last two copper coins in to serve him? Or do you serve God only for yourself, for your needs? Are you on your knees praying for yourself or for others? Do you want to be in front of people to be noticed, to be served, or are you willing to serve God in the back of the crowd, inconspicuously? You might say, "I serve him in the back pews; that is where I am the most comfortable." That is good if you serve him with your last two coins. Another might say, "I believe God wants me to serve him in the front pews." That is good if you serve him with your last two copper coins. Are you serving him with that mindset or are serving him for selfish reasons? These questions should always be foremost in our minds when our feet hit the floor in the morning. God wants to use us. Are we willing? Servanthood is a volitional act, a state of being.

Perfect love creates servanthood. A couple who really love each other will serve each other willingly, openly, in the hardest of times. Such a couple will give their last two copper coins to each other, for theirs is an enduring love. They give all their strength, energy, allegiance and will to each other, asking for nothing in return. They are like the poor widow: This poor widow has put in more than all the others. God's perfect love creates sacrifice, abandonment of self, and asks for everything--total commitment. THIS IS WHAT GOD ASKS OF US. Do we love him so much that we will die for him? Are we willing to give our all? God knows whether we are or not. He alone judges the intents and purposes of our hearts. We might think the preacher in front of us is willing to give all. We might think the elder or dedicated sister in the front pew is willing to give all. But only God knows. He is the judge, the final arbitrator, who does not judge by outward appearances.

Now, it may be easy for Cliff Bursch to sit here this morning serving up a breakfast, but it is harder for him to lead the life God wants him to live, harder for any of us to give our last two coins. It is hard for us to say first, "I am sorry" when we are in conflict with another. It is hard to give money to people without desiring it back. It is very hard to go the extra mile with those who are our enemies, to express God's love by our actions. Jesus saw the widow give her coins when perhaps no one else noticed her small act. Probably no one else cared about the little she had to offer God. But Jesus saw her! He saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. He also saw the rich give out of their abundant wealth. But he focused his disciples on the two copper coins. Now these small coins would not help the temple much, would not make the engine of religion go very far, but Jesus said, this poor widow has put in more than all the others. Jesus revealed that God's ECONOMY DIFFERS GREATLY FROM OURS. His economy is based on willingness: how much of yourself are you willing to give to God? How much of this day are you willing to give God? How much of your energy, your speech, and your wealth are you willing to give to God? How much. . .?

Still today, we have people with flowing robes devouring widows' houses. They love to be up front, on the television, always asking money for themselves, for their ministry, for their lives. Many of these people live very expensive lifestyles (flowing robes). But in the final analysis, God is the evaluator of every life. I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in MORE than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on. My friend, it does not matter how much you put in, but how much of yourself you are willing to put in God's offering plate. If you are willing to give out of your poverty, putting your last two coins into God's work, into his kingdom, you are greatly blessed. God sees us, knows our hearts, and loves a cheerful giver who gives from the abundance of the heart.