Daily PresenceSample

What’s a dollar worth to you? It seems to change with age, our perspective, and financial status in life. I remember my first job was earning minimum wage, which back in the 90’s was $5.15 per hour. I worked at a local fast food chain washing dishes, frying food, and taking orders from irate customers that seemed very difficult to please. My minimum wage pay wasn’t much, maybe $200 per month in good times where hours were plenty and shifts were easy to pick up, but it was a lot to me because it was the first time in life that I had money of my own.

I never forget the concept of giving to my church was instilled in me at a young age. Mom and dad would give me a dollar to put into the offering plate on Sunday mornings. The dollar meant very little to me at the time because I didn’t earn it. I had no concept of the hard work that went into getting that dollar, but when I began to make my own money, giving became more meaningful. I now had the choice of how much to give. The habit my parents instilled in me became a choice of my own that carries on to this day.

I love the story of the widow’s offering in Luke chapter 21 because it’s a reminder that it’s not how much we give but how much we have to give up or sacrifice that matters. An offering is not a financial contribution but a sacrifice. The Widow didn’t have the financial means that the rich had. Her contribution was far less than that of the rich but meant far more because it was a greater sacrifice for her to give up. It serves as a reminder for us that the sacrifice is far greater than the dollar amount. Next time you give, remember you are not just writing the church a check, but sacrificing something to give that gift. This changes our perspective and gives us new life each time we do it!