Open your hands

She’s quick to assist anyone in need, reaches out to help the poor. (Proverbs 31:20 The Message)

I confess that reaching out to the poor is something I struggle with.  I think it is about the state of my current finances.  There was a time in my life, believe it or not, when I felt like I had enough money.  That was a long time ago, but I remember it.  After having children, it never happened again.  

And yet, compared to the rest of the world, our family is rich.  We have two homes (ok, one is small, just saying), 4 cars, plenty of food, clothing we can hardly fit in our closets.  And yet, I struggle to think we have enough.  I compare our lives with others who have more, not less. 

I don't have a problem serving others, but serving the poor is problematic.  It is dangerous to go where they live. I have all kinds of excuses, but they all add up to one thing. 

Greed.  I think all my stuff is MINE.  And I don't want to share.  I might not have enough for everything my family needs and wants.  I don't want to take the risk of not having enough.

The Excellent Wife is not like that.  She gives to ANYONE in need. She doesn't worry about if she has enough.  She doesn't make excuses ("maybe they will use it for drugs.."). She doesn't dawdle, she does it QUICKLY.  She does not wait for people to come to her, she REACHES OUT to them.  She goes to find them.  She is not concerned about what is left for her family. She is confident as the next line boasts:
She doesn’t worry about her family when it snows; their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear. (Proverbs 31:21 The Message)

She trusts You, Father.  She is confident that You will provide her and her family.  

God wants us to give to the poor not only because the poor need it.  We need it.  It is not about redistribution of wealth, it is about our heart.  "It’s not about money. It’s about the undivided attention. It’s about the undivided focus of your heart." (Andy Stanley, "Guardrails")  We need to trust God with out stuff, our money and our time.  We might SAY we trust God, but we show it by how we share with others.  Especially others who are poor.

Father, You are trustworthy and all my stuff comes from You.  It is all Your stuff!  You have said time and time again that when we care for the poor, we care for You and expand Your Kingdom.  But is is hard, so help me.  Help me put Your kingdom first and my kingdom second.

she gave extravagantly...she gave her all

Mark 12:35-44

Sitting across from the offering box, [Jesus] was observing how the crowd tossed money in for the collection. Many of the rich were making large contributions. One poor widow came up and put in two small coins—a measly two cents. Jesus called his disciples over and said, "The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they'll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn't afford—she gave her all."

I love it when the pastor says at church collection time how God doesn't need our money. Of course the treasurer says something different on the day he reports on the church budget! But it is true, God does not seem to look and give extra credit to those who give more, or who have positions in the church, or who are scholars, although those things may be good.

The giving thing is a test--and God already knows our score. It is a test to see how much we trust God, how much we believe in His provision and His promises. How much we truly love others. The test score is for us to see where our heart is, how big our faith is.

As Jesus saw and extravagantly praised the widow with her two measly cents, so He sees and is blessed by my small contribution to the Body of Christ and the advance of His kingdom. Maybe my offering is small, but it is all I have.

Beloved, You do not call my offering small or unimportant. As I give my all to You, You are pleased, delighted, calling to Your friends, "See, Barbara's husband has committed his life to me, and now they are giving back by doing that marriage course!" You rejoice over me, over us. Help me remember and rejoice with You!