Lenten Devotion for 6 April 2011 Anno Domini

Lenten Devotion for 6 April 2011 Anno Domini
“And the common people heard him gladly. 38 And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, 39 And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: 40 Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.
41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. 42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. 43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.”
(Mark 12:37-44)

“And the common people heard him gladly” These (the common people) received His teaching far more readily than those who were impressed on themselves with and over-sophistication of learning. The same rule holds true today. We observe Higher Critics questioning what Christ claimed of Himself and proudly boasting that Christ did not know what they have since learned of Scripture.

Christ provides a series of earmarks by which we may know religious hypocrites of His, and our, time: “Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation. They are motivated by pride and profit (filthy lucre). They recite quite sophisticated prayers and long ones composed often of words they themselves may not understand. This they do to impress the onlookers of their piety. They take away the bread (and walls) from the widows while they themselves live in opulence. No wonder the Higher Critics remove Matthew 23:14 from the Bible! The less said about their motives, the better! Notice that Christ tells us that even their beautiful prayers are not authentic: “for a pretence make long prayers.” There are at least two glaring reasons our prayers are not answered: 1) “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Psalms 66:18) and 2) “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” (James 4:3).

“And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.” Christ is mindful of our sacrifice and generosity in the way we spend our money. He observed the wealthy cast in large amounts of money for they had much to cast in and much to withhold. The amount they gave in no way deprived them from living a life of luxury. They did their duty, perhaps, but no more. They gave out of a full purse and a vacant heart.
Now follows an event of great tenderness and love which has memorialized a poor widow woman until this day: “And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.” In three sentences only does Christ relate this wonderful story. It is completely consistent with the event itself. Few Words, well chosen, will always relate the most profound of truths. She gave little, so few words are required, but look how the account will grow in Heaven at great interest!

“Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury.” The ingredient of love magnifies the gift one hundredfold or even one thousand fold, when it is placed on deposit in the His Majesty’s Bank of the Kingdom of Heaven. The vapors of the morning rise slowly and imperceptibly at the beckoning of the Sun. Tiny molecules of H2O are drawn into the heavens where they condense and form larger water droplets which descend as rain. Look how heaven magnifies the tiny water molecule! “For He maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof.” (Job 36:27). This poor widow gave out of a FULL heart and an EMPTY purse. My heart is blessed to remember her and I love her without seeing. It is estimated that if the widow's mite had been deposited at the "First National Bank, Jerusalem" to draw four percent interest semi-annually, the fund today would total $4,800,000,000,000,000,000,000. If a bank on earth could multiply the widow's mite to such an astronomical figure, think what treasures this dedicated woman will have in heaven where "moth and rust doth not corrupt."

God needs not our money, but He does look for the generosity of it in serving the church and helping our neighbor. Here is a lovely little story that inspired me while yet a child – “57Cents that Built a Church.” (taken from “Acres of Diamonds by Russell Conwell):

The story of Hattie May Wiatt is one of importance to the Baptist Temple as it describes the role of a child in encouraging the congregation to grow and build a new church building. Hattie was found crying because there was not enough room in the Sunday School for her to attend. Conwell placed her on his shoulders and carried her through the waiting crowds into the church. She began saving her pennies to build a larger Sunday School. She had saved only fifty-seven cents when she contracted diphtheria and died. Her parents gave the money to Conwell with an explanation of her reason for saving the money. The 57 pennies were later used as the first down payment for the Broad and Berks building. Hattie May Wiatt's picture can still be found on the wall of the Children's Sunday School room (seating 3,300 scholars).

The Words of Christ best informs us of how we should invest our treasure: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matt 6:19-21) When you get to Heaven, will you have riches on deposit?