Both Testify

Widow's Mite or Prutah, minted by Alexander Jannaeus, King of Judaea, 103 - 76 B.C

For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land. (Deuteronomy 15:11 KJV)

For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. (Mark 14:7 KJV)

It hasn’t changed since Moses stood before the Children of Israel. We have poor among us.  He admonished then to open our hands wide to the poor and needy.  It’s a big part of our national culture to do so.
The poor are not beyond helping others, either.


And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living. (Mark 12:41-44 KJV)

The rich cast in much, but she cast in her living.  I know a woman like that, also a widow. Her income is limited, but I’ve seen her cast into a collection plate for a missionary.  I’ve read cards she’s bought, stamped and sent with prayerful comments to support another. I’ve felt her hugs in comfort, too.  Of her want, she casts in abundance love.

In our country today we see the rich, but do not see indications of them returning an abundance to the poor.  We see them pay large amounts to accountants to keep from paying taxes.  Part of that tax money goes to support the poor in needy.

What is a sufficient amount of money for comfortable living? Are there none among the rich who wish to be counting as caring as much as the widow?

Do the rich fear their advisors will be as Barney Madoff or Jon Corzine, fearful of losing accumulated millions rather than to be willing to share? Such machinations, including outsourcing of jobs, leave many Americans with the same mite resources as the widow.

Rather than give specific examples (oh, how tempting that is!), just remember Paul’s words:


Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7 KJV)

Rich or poor – God loves.