"What can I, who is not that rich, give, when the church I love needs a lot of funds?" That's a question that crosses our minds, doesn't it? The answer for this question can come from an encounter Jesus had with a poor widow. Jesus appreciated the widow who put in two coins into the temple treasury (Mark 12:41-44). From this poor widow story we can learn the following rich lessons on giving to the local church:

1. No One Is Exempt From The Christian Discipline Of Giving: This was a poor widow who gave. She could have thought to herself: "I am a widow. The church is supposed to take care of me. Why should I give?" But she did not do that. She gave. No one is exempt from giving. Even those in the fulltime ministry must give unto the Lord. The Levites had to give 'a tithe of the tithe', the Bible teaches (Num 18:26). You may not have a job, but you need to still give to God. You may just have a small salary, but you still need to give towards the Lord's work. You may be sinking because of a loan, but you need to still give to the Lord.

2. What Matters Is Not How Much You Give, But What Is Left Behind: Your monthly salary may be 100,000. And you may feel greatly elated about giving 1000 to the Lord's Work. But the Lord is more impressed with the person who gives 1000 even when that person only earns 5000 a month. "Give God what is right - not from what is left behind" - someone rightly said. Jesus said this about the widow, "All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on!" (Luke 21:4). What would be Jesus' comment upon our giving disciplines? It is time for some serious introspection. 

3. There Is No Promise Of A Reward, Always, When We Give To God: Jesus, did NOT talk about a reward for this giving widow in this passage. To give to God is such a joy - and we don't need to be coaxed to do that with a promise of a reward. Elsewhere, Jesus said, And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward (Mt 10:42). Once I gave just 100 for a church project and immediately God blessed me back with 100 times that amount! But I don't give to multiply my wealth. I give because I am grateful to God. No matter how much I give, it is never more than what I have graciously received from him. 

​Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:38 (NIV)