THE WORD 4 ev 1

Today’s Reading is Mark 12 (click here for link)

Sometimes the Christian life means great sacrifice.

But not always! That is the difficult thing. Today Mark tells us about the widow’s two mites. Jesus says hers was the greatest offering, because she gave all that she had—it was a sacrifice. But where do we go from here? To say that our offerings must emulate the widow’s is perhaps too extreme, yet sometimes that is the conclusion drawn from this text. Remember too, that Jesus told the rich young man, “Go and sell all that you have…”

Are we all sinning because we are withholding from our Lord?

But you might argue, “I have a family to support.” Yes you do… but what about that nice set of golf clubs you bought last year? What about the manicure you treated yourself to? Could you not have gone without and given to the Lord instead? After all, the widow did! Yet… somehow I don’t think that is the point Jesus was making. Otherwise, why would he not have stopped Mary of Bethany, who broke the jar of precious perfume and poured it on Jesus' head, it was an act for which no one else saw any occasion; the disciples said it was a waste. But Jesus commended Mary for her extravagant act of devotion, and said that wherever His gospel was preached she would be remembered for it.

Yes… sometimes the Christian life means great sacrifice.

But not always! That is the difficult thing. To sell everything you have and give it to the poor until you yourself are poor and your family has nothing to eat would be foolish. You would be testing God. On the other hand, to live your life with the hope of increase or running after leisure would certainly lead you away from God, as well. Instead, the life of sacrifice is the life of walking the fine line. Sacrifice without reason can quickly become waste.

In this way, the Gospel is always surprising us with its endorsement of the unexpected—the great sacrifice. There are times when it is necessary. But not all the time! The difficulty lies in trusting the plan of God when he calls you to sacrifice.

Jesus said, “Whoever believes in me… ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" John 7:38

Jesus has a purpose for each of us, and His purpose is not the development of a man or a woman. His purpose is to make you exactly like Himself, and the characteristic of the Son of God is self-expenditure. If we believe in Jesus, it is not what we gain, but what He pours through us that counts (Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest).

Good wine comes from good grapes. God’s purpose is not to make us plump little grapes to be left on the vine. That is not His intention at all. He desires to squeeze the sweetness right out of us when the time for harvest is near.

Will you lay it all down when he calls?

Pastor Aaron