The Heart of Giving

Money is a topic that makes most of us squirm a little, especially when it comes up in church. It’s one of those subjects that can feel uncomfortable, but that discomfort often reveals something deeper. You see, the Bible speaks very plainly about money, not because God is interested in our wallets, but because He’s interested in our hearts. Jesus Himself addressed the topic of money frequently—in fact, sixteen of His twenty-nine parables mention money. That’s over half! And one-sixth of the New Testament deals with finances in some way.

Why so much emphasis? Because there’s a profound connection between our hearts and our resources. As Jesus said in Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Our spending habits reveal our priorities, our values, and what truly matters to us.

That’s what Jesus is dealing with in the passage we’re looking at today.

The setting is Jerusalem, during the final week of Jesus’ earthly ministry—just days before His crucifixion. The tension in the air is thick as Jesus finds Himself surrounded by religious leaders determined to trap Him and discredit Him in front of the people. The Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes each take their turn challenging Him with questions designed to trap Him. But each time, Jesus answers with such wisdom that their schemes fall flat. By the time we reach verse 38 of Mark 12, the tables have turned.

Now, instead of responding to their questions, Jesus addresses the crowd directly. He exposes the hypocrisy of the religious leaders for everyone to see. And in the midst of this, He offers a powerful lesson about giving. A lesson not just about money, but about what it means to truly give from the heart.

Let's dive into this text and uncover three powerful truths about giving that Jesus teaches us right here. Truths that will challenge us, inspire us, and ultimately draw us closer to God.

Jesus begins by warning the crowd about the scribes, saying, “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 pretense make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.” (Mark 12:38-40)

The scribes were supposed to be the religious elite—the most devout, the most knowledgeable. But their religion was all about appearance. They craved the praise of men. Their giving was nothing more than a show, an attempt to gain status and power.

Then, the scene shifts. Jesus sits down opposite the temple treasury, a place where worshippers would come to give their offerings. Thirteen shofar-shaped chests stood in the temple courts, each designed to collect donations. The rich would come and pour their wealth into the chests with dramatic flair, their coins clinking loudly for all to hear. To many, this was a sign of great devotion.

But then Jesus’ attention is drawn to someone no one else would have noticed. A poor widow approaches and drops in two mites—tiny copper coins worth almost nothing. Yet Jesus sees something extraordinary. He calls His disciples over and says, “Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 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 12:43-44)

What a powerful moment! Where everyone else saw poverty, Jesus saw faith. Where everyone else saw insignificance, Jesus saw sacrifice. God sees what man overlooks. He sees the small, faithful acts of service that may go unnoticed by everyone else. And more than that, He values them.

This woman’s offering was about far more than money. It was an act of worship, a declaration of faith, and an expression of total surrender to God. And Jesus noticed. Jesus always notices. And when He sees our faithfulness, He promises to reward us openly.

Jesus had been watching people give their offerings at the temple. The wealthy approached, dropping in large sums with great fanfare. Then came this poor widow, her gift so small it barely made a sound. Yet, Jesus said her offering was greater than all the others combined. How is that possible?

It's because God’s economy is different. God doesn’t measure giving by the size of the gift, but by the size of the sacrifice. The rich gave out of their abundance—what they wouldn’t miss. But the widow gave all she had, even all her living. She gave in a way that demonstrated complete trust and devotion to God.

This isn’t about giving a certain amount or trying to earn God’s favor. It’s about offering our lives to Him completely. It’s about surrendering everything we have and trusting Him with it all. Romans 12:1 calls us to “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

The story of the widow’s mite echoes the same truth. It’s not about the amount—it’s about the heart behind the giving. And God sees that. He values that. And He honors that.

One of the reasons we struggle with giving is fear. We worry that if we give generously, we won’t have enough left for ourselves. But the widow didn’t let fear hold her back. She trusted God completely.

When we give sacrificially, we’re placing our faith in God’s provision. We’re acknowledging that He is our provider, not our bank account or our possessions. Philippians 4:19 assures us, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
The widow’s trust account was full, even if her wallet was empty. And that’s what true giving is all about—trusting that God will provide. She believed that God would meet her needs, and she was willing to place her life in His hands.

Fear tells us to hold on tightly to what we have. Faith tells us to let go and trust God to provide. The act of giving becomes a powerful declaration of faith when we choose to place our resources, our future, and our security in God's hands. Jesus Himself said in Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

True giving is an act of worship. It’s a way of saying, “God, I trust You more than I trust my own resources. I trust Your promises more than my own understanding.” And that’s what makes giving so powerful—it’s faith in action.

The story of the widow’s mite is more than just a lesson about generosity; it’s a call to complete surrender and faith. God doesn’t measure giving by the size of the gift but by the heart behind it. He sees what man overlooks, and He treasures the acts of faith and sacrifice that often go unnoticed by the world.

True giving flows from a heart that trusts God completely. It’s about placing everything we have in His hands and believing that He will provide. Just as the widow trusted God with all she had, we are called to trust Him with all that we are. And when we do, we will find that God is faithful, God is generous, and God will always provide.

So, let’s give with hearts fully surrendered to God, knowing that our faithfulness matters more to Him than the size of our gift. And let’s live lives of generous obedience, trusting Him to meet our needs every step of the way.