Giving Out of Abundance or Penury - Luke 21:4

Luke the beloved physician shared how Jesus “looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow has cast in more than they all”, and in chapter twenty-one and verse four of his book Luke shared how Jesus talked about giving out of “abundance” or “penury” where we read:

For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God:

but she of her penury has cast in all the living that she had.

The verse reads, “For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God:” Luke began with the words, “for all these” or “because, since and on account that each, every, the whole and everyone of the wealthy mean” “have of their abundance” which means “have from their abounding overflow and super-abounding excess” “cast in unto the offerings” or “thrown, scattered and let go into the gifts, presents, money and sacrifices” “of God” which means “belonging to the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”. Luke shared how Jesus said the “wealthy men” “gave” into “God's offering” out of their “abounding overflow”.

The verse goes on to say, “but she of her penury has cast in all the living that she had.” Luke continued with the words, “but she of her penury” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover the needy widow pertaining to her deficiency, lack, poverty, want and destitution” “has cast in” which means “has thrown, scattered and let go into the repository” “all the living” or “each, every, the whole and everything by which she was sustained and existed” “that she had” which means “that the needy widow owned, possessed and held”. Luke shared how Jesus said this “needy widow” “let go” into the “treasury” everything she owned that sustained her life .

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus judged the “giving” of the wealthy men and this “needy widow”. Though the “rich men” cast a larger amount monetarily into the treasury, this “poor widow” threw in all she had. The “widow” cast in out of her “want, desire and need”, and the “rich men” let go of money that was a small percentage of their possessions. God loves a “cheerful giver” (See 2 Corinthians 9:7), and when people “give” like this “needy widow”, they give like God does. He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus, so the world might have a relationship with Him by faith. Jesus gave His life on the cross to pay for the sins of all mankind, and everyone who believes and trusts in Him shall be forgiven of their sins and receive “everlasting life” with God. Let all who read these words examine the “giving” of God and this “widow” and seek to emulate their sacrificial ways every time they “give”.

Next time Luke shares how, “some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".