The $13.27 Coin Purse Parable
In the Bible, Jesus and His disciples witnessed a widow going to the temple and gave all she had with a humble and grateful heart, while others either half halfheartedly threw in some money, or worse yet, pompously made their big donations known to everyone. Jesus made it very clear that the widow gave so much more than the others. I am sure the widow’s gift was multiplied in her own life, and the Lords blessed what she gave because it was done with the right heart, and acted upon in faith despite the fear she may have faced that it wasn’t enough and now she had nothing. She gave all she had. To the world, it seemed insignificant, but to Jesus, it was more than enough.
One day I was visiting my special friend from nursing home where I served as a minister for 5 ½ years. We often prayed together, and I watched God moved in both of our lives during those years through the power of intercession and prayer.
My church was raising money for our new building fund. God has moved mightily at the church and we were growing by leaps and bounds. She and I often prayed for the church and this particular day the Lord was showing her the great and mighty things my church would accomplish. I was getting ready to leave for the day and she asked me to get her bag. Inside of the bag was a coin purse. She asked me to please take the coin purse and use what was inside for the new building fund. There was exactly $13.27 inside. I was so touched that she gave what she could and had such a happy heart in giving it. That Sunday I took out a collections envelope and filled it out with her precious gift and stood before the congregation and shared what the Lord showed her and presented my pastor with her gift.
When our new building and campus comes to fruition, that $13.27 gift will play an important part, and in the spirit realm it will be blessed and multiplied for the church and for her because it was given with a joyful heart. She gave what she could, and I know that the Lord delighted in this gift as we did that Sunday.
In the Bible, Jesus and His disciples witnessed a widow going to the temple and gave all she had with a humble and grateful heart, while others either halfheartedly threw in some money, or worse yet, pompously made their big donations known to everyone. Jesus made it very clear that the widow gave so much more than the others. I am sure the widow’s gift was multiplied in her own life, and the Lords blessed what she gave because it was done with the right heart, and acted upon in faith despite the fear she may have faced that it wasn’t enough and now she had nothing. She gave all she had. To the world, it seemed insignificant, but to Jesus, it was more than enough.
Many times, we feel that we don’t have enough to offer God. Whether it is time, talent or money, we often compare ourselves to others and feel insignificant, or feel what we are offering will not make a difference. We also may hold back in fear that if we give to God when our own needs are great, we will personally fall into lack. Nothing could be further from the truth. Anything given to God with the right heart, great or small, will be used and returned to us more than we could ever imagine.
I will never forget the beauty of the $13.27 gift my sweet friend made to plant the seed of the vision of our new church building. That act of kindness and giving sparked me to check myself in areas where I was holding back, and encouraged me to humbly and gratefully give more of my time, money and talent.
I challenge you to dig into your spiritual coin purses and give all you can in faith with a grateful heart. Whether it is finally deciding to tithe your 10% gross to your local church, or serving your time in a soup kitchen, or simply blocking out and prioritizing your time to pray and spend time with God or intercede for others, your investment will multiplied in the Kingdom of God.
Give your all to God, whether big or small, and He will honor it. Every gift given in love and faith is vital and important and what you have to contribute to this world is vital. Let the world be touched by your gift today.
Reflect What have you been holding back from giving? Do you feel there may be pride or fear stopping you from giving what you can? Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to show you any areas and write them down.
Meditate Read the following scriptures, and ask the Holy Spirit to show you the life lessons you can apply to your life right now. Mark 12:41-44, Luke 21:1-4 Luke 6:38
Act Focus on one area where you can start to give or increase in your giving. Determine today that what you have to offer God is vital and important in His eyes, and dig into that spiritual coin purse and see what God will do to further His Kingdom, encourage and inspire others and multiply many blessings in your life!
