"And he called his disciples, and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast more than all the bidders did gazofilácio" (Mark 12:43).
Jesus was in the temple looking at the people who gave their offerings in cash. Among all He saw, a widow who stood out, because he offered everything he had, having almost nothing.
If I were in financial need, would it be that I myself would be an offering?
What can I expect before God when I offer him? Or can not I expect anything?
Have I ever moved in joy to offer? Or does it always bother me, bored with a moment of offering?
To see biblically what my act of offering can do is done with joy through faith.
Why would a widow and poor woman offer everything she had, even more because she had almost nothing? Why did he give what little he had, since that was all his sustenance? Perhaps the answer can be found in what the biblical text of Romans 15:13 says. The Bible declares: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace, for your trust in him, so that you overflow with hope, by the power of the Holy Spirit." Another version says: "May God, what has given you hope, keep you happy and full of the peace that is born by faith, through the power of the Holy Spirit in your lives."
The biblical text teaches us that faith makes us act in confidence. And more, it tells us that faith gives birth to joy. Why would that woman be left with nothing, giving what little she had, offering to God? What is the reason? Certainly, she was putting her trust in him who could supply all needs! Certainly, she was using faith to receive the miracle of God. The Bible is the basis of faith. Faith is only faith if it is based on what the Bible says. That being the case, that woman probably based her faith on the biblical account of another widow. In 1 Kings 17.8-15, we have the meeting of Elijah with a widow in the city of Sarepta. That widow also had the remainder of her sustenance, her last meal, when the prophet came to her. He said: "Give me the food you have for me!" Because of that woman's response, we can see that she did not like what Elias said. She replied: "What I have only gives me and my son, it does not give you." But Elijah activated the faith of that woman with a Word of God. He said: "Do first for me, because by the Word of God, the flour and oil will not end, until the day when the Lord will rain on the earth again!" Immediately, upon hearing that, the woman obeyed and did according to Elijah instructed her.
What made him change? She saw her house having food until that drought was over. She saw the joy of having sustenance. She saw the fulfillment of that word, and she trusted. She was happy with the certainty of experiencing that miracle, and, immediately, acted. Faith sees the fulfillment of the Word of God and rejoices! Giving is a biblical principle. Jesus taught in Luke 6:38: "They must, and it will be given to them: a good measure, measured, shaken and overflowing will be given to you, because as you use them, it will also be used to measure them.
In this text, Jesus teaches that we should give and teach that we can have an expectation that we will be given, to a greater extent, how much we are giving. We give with joy, for the expectation of experiencing more of God's goodness. In another text, in which the Bible encourages believers to give, she says: "Because the service of this assistance not only overcomes the need of the saints, but also results in many thanks to God" (2 Corinthians 9.12). Here the Bible teaches that giving will generate many actions of grace to God. Giving generates praise and gratitude to the Lord. In this way, we give with joy, knowing that God will be praised in that attitude. For knowing that gratitude will be given to God in that act.
In 2 Corinthians 8, we see the believers of the region of Macedonia who also gave, offered, doing beyond their capacity. They did not stay, they had little. But they took what they had and they gave it. The purpose of that offer was to supply the believers in the Jerusalem region who were going through needs, due to the Christian persecution suffered at that time. They gave with joy, for the accomplishment of having their brothers supplied. In this particular case, the Bible reports that the Macedonians were moved by generosity. "Generosity is the own and voluntary initiative to give!" That generosity pleased God so much that the text says that the Lord has transformed his poverty into abundant wealth.
In the Bible in Exodus 35, the text shows that God had told the people to bring offers to the temple work that would proclaim His name. People offered gold, silver, textiles, wood, precious stones and other things. It is clear the joy of those people in offering to the work of the temple, because the Bible declares that the people contributed until they stayed. One offer catches my attention: God said that oil should be continually offered, which would be used to light the lamps, and thus illuminate the temple. Today, of course, light is provided through the "electric power company". But we can see people interested in offering to the constant work in the temple, where the name of the Lord is proclaimed. They offered for the joy of the continuity of the Lord's work.
The Bible declares that faith pleases God. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11.6). Believing that God is reward, reward, present, is an act of faith and pleases God. The widows mentioned above, certainly, believed in a rewarding, rewarding God. Because of that, they acted. That's why they gave it. And so, it was possible to rejoice in the giving, in that certainty of trusting in a God who rewards. No attitude of ours can buy the blessing of God. That's impossible. But the Bible teaches that faith is confirmed with attitudes. Faith without works is dead. So, I understand that I am believing in God for something, when I am pleasing God according to the faith I am declaring to have.
The widow of Sarepta believed in the promise of not ending food, and acted giving, showing that she had really believed. His obedience to the Word declared by God was the attitude that confirmed his faith. The Bible says that God loves the one who gives with joy (2 Corinthians 9.7). What is your joy in giving? The joy of being rewarded? The joy of supplying the needy? The joy of generating praises to God? The joy in giving support to the work of the Lord? The joy of experiencing the fulfillment of the Word of God in your life? I must be a donor. I must give faith. I must give with joy.
The Bible says that everything that is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:23). It also says that God loves the one who gives with joy, that I must give, offer. And joy is a feeling that proves that I am having faith. I need to align my faith to my giving, so that I can always act before God, opening my hands with joy. Giving with joy, acting in faith pleases God, I contribute to his purposes and experience more of the goodness of a Galardonary God.
To offer to give, the need to find a reason to act in faith, to fill my heart with joy, by the norms of the Word of God. I need to make God happy with my faith and the joy of giving.