“38 He also said in His teaching, “Beware of the scribes, who want to go around in long robes, and who want greetings in the marketplaces, 39 the front seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour widows houses and say long prayers just for show. These will receive harsher punishment.”

41 Sitting across from the temple treasury, He watched how the crowd dropped money into the treasury. Many rich people were putting in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and dropped in two tiny coins worth very little. 43 Summoning His disciples, “He said to them, I assure you: This poor widow has put in more than all those giving to the temple treasury. 44 For they all gave out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she possessed — all she had to live on.”

Mark 12:38-44 

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Here we find two hearts in stark contrast with one another. We find the audacious, bold, arrogant heart of the religious leaders standing in opposition to the quiet, faithful, Humble heart of the widow. The religious leaders, proud of their accomplishments, proud of their position, proud of their wealth, proud of their intellect stand apart from God. They worshipped only themselves, and as Jesus says, their reward comes from men and their praise.

But this quiet widow, giving all she had, trusting in God, she is the one with the heart that honors God. Nothing those religious leaders could do could begin to imitate what she brought to God. The religious leaders trusted only in themselves, they had no concept of grace or of God’s care. Sure, they would have considered themselves blessed, but they would also take the credit for the blessing. God showed them favor because of their genetic forebears and because of their own righteous acts. They earned it. 

The widow comes knowing that YHWH is her provider, knowing that there is nothing in her that buys her love from Him. Instead, she comes wholly trusting and wholly thankful. Out of her poverty, she gave it all. And if you’ve ever seen the Israeli ‘mite’ you know that it is an incredibly small coin. For that to be all you have in the world is to be dependent on God. 

Mark 10 – “23 Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 24 But the disciples were astonished at His words. Again Jesus said to them, Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

We would all be better to be more dependent on God, trusting in Him, rather than trusting in money, intellect, position or anything else. To GoLove in His Name means to GoLove dependent on Him. Rich and poor, learned and meek, we must come to others humbly through our understanding of Him. We cannot go out proud of self, but instead boasting in Christ. 

Mark 8:34-37

“34 Summoning the crowd along with His disciples, He said to them, “If anyone wants to be My follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me and the gospel will save it. 36 For what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world yet lose his life? 37 What can a man give in exchange for his life?”

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

“26 Brothers, consider your calling: Not many are wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth. 27 Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. 28 God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world — what is viewed as nothing — to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, 29 so that no one can boast in His presence. 30 But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became God- given wisdom for us — our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, 31 in order that, as it is written: The one who boasts must boast in the Lord.”