Mark 12:41-44, New International Reader's Version

The Widow’s Offering

⁴¹Jesus sat down across from the place where people put their temple offerings. He watched the crowd putting their money into the offering boxes. Many rich people threw large amounts into them. ⁴²But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins. They were worth only a few pennies.

⁴³Jesus asked his disciples to come to him. He said, “What I’m about to tell you is true. That poor widow has put more into the offering box than all the others. ⁴⁴They all gave a lot because they are rich. But she gave even though she is poor. She put in everything she had. That was all she had to live on.”

Message:

(If your church has an offering collection time in your worship, describe it at the beginning of this message.) Each Sunday in our worship service, we take an offering. Raise your hand if you think Jesus likes it when we put a lot of money in the offering plate. (Pause and allow children to participate.) Raise both hands if you think Jesus likes it when you put a little bit of money in the offering plate. (Pause as the children participate.)

The Bible says in Mark 12, beginning with verse 4, that one day, Jesus went to the temple and sat down near the place where the offerings were given. He sat and watched as each person put in an offering. Many rich people dressed in fancy robes came by and put in a lot of money. Then, a poor widow came by and put in just two small coins.

Do you know what a widow is? (Allow children to answer.) That’s right, a widow is someone whose husband has died, and she is alone in life. She came to the temple by herself and put two small coins in the offering. A widow wouldn’t have money from a husband’s job to help provide things for her life.

Jesus called his disciples to come to him. When they did, he said, "That poor widow has put more into the offering box than all the others. They all gave a lot because they are rich. But she gave even though she is poor. She put in everything she had. That was all she had to live on.”

Jesus is more interested in what is the giver’s heart than the size of the gift. It’s not about how much you give, but howyou give. The widow gave everything she had.

Do you know the difference between selfish and selfless? Could someone tell me what selfish means? (Allow one child to answer.) Selfishness is when people care only about themselves and what they have. A selfish person wants more: more money, more power, more stuff. A selfish person doesn’t want to share what they have with anyone else.

What does selfless mean? (Allow another child to answer.) That’s right. Selflessness is the opposite of selfishness. Someone who thinks of others first would be considered selfless. Someone who has a big heart and cares about others would be considered selfless.

Raise your hand if you think the widow was selfish in her giving. (Allow children to respond.) Now, raise both hands if you think the widow was selfless in her giving. (Allow children to respond.) True giving comes from a place of love for God and others. Giving doesn’t come from wanting to be recognized. “Watch me; look at how much money I am giving.” True giving isn’t about getting praise or reward.

When you give your offering money, ask yourself if you are giving to help others or to help yourself.

If your giving is done quietly, without seeking attention, then it is because of your heart, like the widow's offering in Mark 12. Jesus was frustrated that those in the Temple gave because they wanted to be seen by others. They were selfish. They were seeking attention.

The widow gave “all she had to live on,” meaning she put her trust in God.

When we give our offerings of money, time, or talent to God, God doesn’t compare our offerings to those of other people. We are all unique to God. Some of us might have more time or more money than others, but God looks at what we have. God looks at the attitude we have about giving. When we give as much as we possibly can with a generous and thankful heart, God is incredibly pleased and happy!

What about you? Do you want to be a selfless giver? Raise both hands if you do. (Allow children to respond.) Wow! That certainly would make God happy.

Prayer:

Generous God, everything I have is a gift from you. Help me not to worry about my belongings or how much money I have but to always be willing to share what I have with others in need. Your faithful love continues forever! Amen.