A seemingly simple observation…but a powerful teaching. That is what I see in today’s Gospel. I mean it is maybe one of the shortest “lessons” Jesus taught…but as best I can tell…in encompasses the heart of what we are called to as Christians.

…but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood. Luke 21:4

We are all impoverished. Our sin, our selfishness, our pride…they leave us with so very little to offer Christ. We are flawed and wounded and weak…at least we have allowed ourselves to become these things. But even as we are, Christ humbled Himself, suffered and died for our sake….so that we might live. And so now that we are alive…His Spirit calls us to offer our livelihood….our everything. Out of our emotional, physical, and spiritual poverty…we are to give to God everything that we are. The good and the bad….knowing that none of it is worthy of Him…but trusting that He can transform it. This humble widow…whose name we don’t ever learn…provides a moving, humbling example for us to follow. Whatever we have…however poor it may seem…we need to give it to God. I don’t have any excuse to hold on to any of it. Whatever good I have is only through Him…and everything else is the result of my own weakness, but it has been redeemed by Him. So I must give it all to Him….I must not withhold anything. Whatever time I have….not just my extra time…it is His. Whatever energy I have…not just leftover energy from my week…it is His. Whatever resources I have…not just the stuff I don’t use any more anyway…they are His. It’s really as simple as that. That is our call. That is my call. So what am I waiting for? It’s time to give.