While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins.
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.” Luke 21:1-4 NLT
I have often wondered how modern "name it and claim it" preachers interpret this story...
Our modern view of Christianity is that Jesus came to give us a better life, yet here we have a very clear picture of a faithful follower of the Lord who was not enjoying the "benefits" of her faith. This presents us with an interesting dilema. Either this woman had a faith problem that had left her in poverty, or we have a poor understanding of what Christ came to the earth to do.
Some modern teachers would have to suggest that this woman had an obvious lack of faith, evidenced by the fact that she was utterly destitute. Perhaps some sin in her life, or faithlessness left her in financial bondage when Jesus Christ had come to set her free...
This explanation doesn't work, because it undermines the Lord's commendation of the woman's actions. Why would Jesus commend the faith of the faithless? He would NOT. So there must be another explanation...
Could it be that modern Christianity has distorted the Gospel to the point that we no longer understand why Christ came?
Jesus Christ did not come so that this widow could enjoy health, wealth, and a good life on earth. What He came to do for this widow was not to bless her finances. He didn't come to rescue her from financial troubles. He came because this woman - and you and I - had a sin problem. What we need is not financial blessing. What we need is salvation!
Jesus Christ came because "the wages of sin is death" and without His willingness to pay the price for our sins, we are utterly doomed.
So does this mean that Christ wasn't concerned with the widow's financial situation? Not at all.
We don't know what happened to the widow after she had given her last pennies in offering to the Lord. Did she starve to death because she had no money left to buy food? Did she lose her home because she had no means to pay her bills? Did Jesus miraculously provide for her, blessing her beyond measure? Or just maybe, did one of Jesus listeners that day hear the truth of the woman's plight and recognize an opportunity to live out the faith about which Christ was teaching?
...Just a thought.
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