In the Lord’s eyes, this poor widow gave more than all the others put together, even though her gift was by far the smallest. The value of a gift is not determined by its amount, but by the spirit in which it is given. A gift given grudgingly or for recognition loses its value in the eyes of the Lord. Jesus watched the people’s giving, and then explained to His disciples that the people had given of “their abundance,” but she “has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

• What does the widow’s gift say about her dependence on and trust in God?

What a great picture of Christ’s gift of salvation for us. It cost Him everything. When giving, we should have the same heart as the widow. Many of us can’t even imagine how it would feel to give away something when we had close to nothing at all. Gifts of any size are pleasing to God when they are given out of gratitude and a spirit of generosity. There are many people around you who would benefit greatly from you and what you must give – whether time or possessions.