Mark 12:41 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.
This passage of scripture teaches us the principle of sacrificial giving, as manifested by the widow who only had two mites, yet she brought them to the treasury as the best she could do. At this time Christ was standing nearby, observing the gifts that were being given, and even though many of the worshipers were bringing large donations, yet the deed of this widow caught His attention, and He was moved to make mention of it to His disciples, as a lesson in giving to all who participate in the building up of God's kingdom upon the earth. The spirit of self sacrifice that was made manifest in this instance is verily the Spirit of The Most High, and it should be emulated and exercised in all those who follow in the footsteps of Christ.
The benevolence that God approves is that which comes from a heart full of gratitude for the many temporal and spiritual blessings that are showered upon us each day, and there are times in our experiences that it may not necessarily call for sacrifice in order to give. However, there are times when the going gets rough, and like the widow, we may find ourselves in very straightened places, and it's at times like these when our gratitude and benevolence are really tested. The natural human response to dire poverty is to hoard whatsoever little is left, but the true spirit of benevolence will override poverty and give of the little that is left, even if it means donating all of our substance or possessions.
In the days of Elijah the prophet, when the heavens were stayed from giving rain upon the earth, there was a woman who was suffering tremendously because of the scarcity of food in the land , and the time came when she had just enough flour and oil to make one last bake for herself and her son, and after that she planned to close her doors and die of starvation, for there seemed to be no way out of her predicament. But of all the thousands in Israel, some of whom were far better off than this woman, God chose to send Elijah to her, with what some would consider an unthinkable request, by which the true spirit of benevolence was severely tested. Let's read:
1st Kings 17:10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. 11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. 12 And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. 13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. 14 For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth. 15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.
In our day, the tendency to become tightfisted in times of dire need causes us to lose out on many blessings that would otherwise have been bestowed if we had kept our eyes on Jesus, and had followed in His footsteps of self-denial and sacrificial giving. Though we should never give with the intention of receiving, yet the fact of the matter is that God has made promises to the faithful that will certainly be fulfilled in their due season. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which teaches us the true spirit of benevolence, and it is the will of God that we do so with a cheerful spirit, just as He delights to bless us. Let's read:
2nd Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His word. "Good night" and God bless!