Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, 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 14:41-44

Back in my Air Force days, somebody challenged me directly with this verse. He told me to put my entire paycheck into the offering when it went around during church.

I didn’t make a lot back then so I came up with more excuses than grains of sand at the beach. He just folded his arms and smiled. After I spent the better part of an hour explaining why I couldn’t put in my entire paycheck, I relented. My reaction to his suggestion was evidence that I should do it!!

I remember at the time that it was extremely scary before I did it, but once I put it in, it was wonderfully freeing. While I was still in the Air Force I acted on that challenge several times. I didn’t go hungry or without clothes. In fact, I was probably freer doing that than holding onto the check.

But that was then, twenty years ago. This is now.

What’s changed? Time. Life. Bills. Cares. Family. I had those back then. Fear? Yep, still the same. Fear that the God of the Universe wouldn’t look after me if I put a lot extra into the offering plate?

Pretty silly fear, isn’t it?