Generous Women

Generous Women

Widow With Two Coins, Mary Of Bethany

Read: Mark 12:43-44; John 12:1-3

The college president made no attempt to hide his excitement during the interview as he talked about the school’s unexpected windfall. Just as the small private college faced its worst financial crisis ever, it received the largest donation in its history. A widowed heiress had died, and since she was childless, she willed her entire fortune to the small college she had attended many years earlier.

The two women in today’s verses came from different financial circumstances, but both displayed extreme generosity. The widow probably lived in poverty, barely managing to feed herself. According to Jesus, her offering of two coins was all the money she had to live on. Many people would have called the widow crazy for giving the money to the Temple instead of keeping it for her own needs.

Mary of Bethany probably enjoyed much more wealth than the poor widow, but a large jar of pure nard certainly didn’t fit her budget either. The cost of the rare perfume she poured over Jesus’ feet was equal to a laborer’s wages for an entire year. Jesus understood that Mary’s generosity overflowed from her love and gratitude to him. When some observers criticized her for wasting money, he defended her gesture.

God wants us to be wise in handling our finances, but he also expects us to be generous in giving to others and in giving some of our resources back to him. Anything we put in the offering plate originally came from his hand. We don’t have to worry about giving him more than we can afford. If we’re obedient children living for him, then our heavenly Father has committed himself to meeting all our needs. Even if others think we’re wasting our money, God will reward our giving and make it possible for us to be even more generous.

Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous.

2 Corinthians 9:11