Listen

He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Mark 12:41-44

Think

What does it mean to truly give, to truly share what we have? Sometimes when we think about why we are doing something nice for others, we find it has more to do with us than them. We call this selfish service. It is when we decide to serve because we have to fulfill an obligation for school or to get into the college we want. It is when we focus on the work and fail to meet the people and treat them as friends. Selfish service is something we all have to wrestle with.

Jesus shows us it is not simply the act of giving that is important, but the way we do it. Do we take time to be known by those we serve, or do we simply make assumptions based on stereotypes? Do we see value where others see none?

Andrew Kellner

Pray

God, source of every good gift and all that I have, help me to serve and share from the depths of my being. Help me to see with your eyes and find value and dignity where the world sees none. Help me not to serve because I must or because it makes me feel good, but because I have sought to see you in those I serve. Amen.

Go

Go now knowing that God knows you inside and out.
Go knowing that God accepts you and is redeeming you.
Go knowing that God has given you all you need
To do and become all that God intends.

You are a work in progress
And your Creator is at work in you still.

Trust the Maker’s hand.