Eyes On The Plate

Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury.

Mark 12:41

How would you feel if your pastor followed the ushers down the aisle one Sunday, inspecting what you put into the offering plate? In a sense, that’s exactly what Jesus did in Mark 12. He watched carefully as the people brought their money to the Temple and offered it to the Lord. After all, it was His Father’s house, and He had good reason to inspect what was taking place.

We think that what we do with our money is our business; but it’s God’s business, and He doesn’t apologize for watching with intense interest to see what we do with our income.

Notice, however, that Jesus wasn’t impressed with the amounts given that day but rather with the heart attitudes of the givers. The least giver of all, the widow who had only two mites, was the largest giver in Jesus’ book, “for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty” (Mark 12:44).

Remember, Jesus is watching, and the Lord is interested in how we manage our money. After all, we’re simply His stewards.

The most obvious lesson in Christ’s teaching is that there is no happiness in having or getting anything, but only in giving.

HENRY DRUMMOND