By Roy E. Ciampa, Ph.D.,
S. Louis and Ann W. Armstrong Professor of Religion, Samford University
The Poor Widow: Faith That Gives
Luke 12:13–21; 21:1–4
This week we learn from a poor widow that our attitudes toward money reflect our attitudes toward God and those in need.
Having an abundance of things does not equate to having an abundant life. (12:13–15)
Someone who feels he deserves a greater share of an inheritance hopes to co-opt Jesus’ authority to help himself in his conflict with his brother. Jesus indicates He hasn’t been appointed to resolve this particular issue and suggests the fact that the man’s first instinct was to use Jesus’ authority to his personal advantage in a financial dispute may be a sign that his priorities were confused.
In what might have been his one opportunity to benefit from Jesus’ presence he couldn’t think of any greater thing he could gain from Christ than a financial advantage.
He sought a greater abundance of things in life rather than seeking the abundant life only Christ can offer. Jesus’ warning about the temptation of greed could potentially apply to both of the men involved in this dispute.
Evaluate your life’s pursuits and priorities from an eternal perspective. (12:16–21)
Our Lord tells a parable about a man who thinks the sole purpose of life is to gain financial security and then to be free to enjoy the wealth he has gained. It never occurs to the man that rather than simply storing his wealth and using it to enjoy a life of leisure he could be using it for the benefit of others.
He is focused on his own self-interest in a way that, ironically, is to the extreme detriment of his own self-interest.
The blessings we receive are given to us by God to be shared with others in need and not to be hoarded for our own use.
Jim Elliot, the missionary martyr, wrote, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” The man in Jesus’ parable was unwilling to give what he could not keep and no strategy is more foolish than that. Rather one should be “rich toward God” which includes being rich in generosity toward those in need.
As Proverbs 19:17 says, “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord and He will reward them for what they have done.” The good things God gives us should be used to advance His kingdom purposes.
Sacrifice is a demonstration of one’s willingness to trust God’s provisions. (21:1–4)
The faith of the poor widow described in this passage is even more remarkable when we remember in the verse just before this passage Jesus says the teachers of the law “devour widows’ houses” (Luke 20:47).
The fact religious leaders had been exploiting people like her did not deter her from giving all she had to the temple they controlled. Her giving was a reflection of her love for God and her faith in Him, not a reflection of her faith in them.
The religious leaders should have been ashamed of themselves for exploiting such a woman rather than helping keep her from becoming destitute. Those who were making a show of their generous giving to the temple but whose generosity did not extend to this woman should also have been ashamed.
Unlike them she will be remembered as one who trusted God not only with her last penny but down to her last breath. She had less money and better reasons not to give than any of us but provided us with a Christ-like example of entrusting oneself completely to God and of showing part of what it means to be “rich toward God.”
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