Giving That Touches God’s Heart

Scripture Reading: Luke 21:1–4 (NIV)

Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Devotional Reflection 

There are moments in Scripture where Jesus pauses. When He does, something important is unfolding. In Luke 21, He stops to observe the crowd giving their offerings. Many wealthy people dropped in large gifts, yet it was the widow with two small coins who drew His attention.

Her giving was not impressive by human standards. It didn’t shake the treasury. It didn’t draw applause. But heaven noticed. Jesus highlighted her act because it reflected something deeper than money. It revealed trust, love, and surrender.

Early church father John Chrysostom captured this truth well: “The value of a gift lies not in its amount, but in the spirit in which it is given.” The widow’s offering was small, but the spirit behind it was rich with faith.

What touched God’s heart was not the size of her coins but the size of her commitment. She gave when she had nothing to spare. She gave out of devotion, not duty. She gave because her confidence was in God, not her resources.

Her act teaches us that heaven measures generosity differently. God measures the depth of the heart, not the depth of the pocket. He looks at the faith behind the offering, the sacrifice behind the seed, the surrender behind the gesture. In view of that we need to pursue an understanding of our giving 

• What motivates your giving: obligation, recognition, or love for God?
• Do you give in ways that stretch your faith, or only in ways that feel safe?
• What small act of trust is God calling you to today?

Life Application

1. Give with Intentionality
   Before giving your time, resources, or service, pause and offer it prayerfully to God.

2. Practice Sacrificial Generosity
   Find a way to give that costs you something. Not to impress others, but to honor God.

3. Trust God With Your Lack
   The widow gave in scarcity and still believed God would sustain her. Let her faith challenge you to depend on God beyond your comfort.

4. Let Your Heart Lead Your Hands
   Whether it’s money, kindness, service, or encouragement, give from a place of love and trust.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me give in ways that honor You. Teach me to trust You with my little and my much. Give me a heart like the widow’s—a heart that offers my best even in difficult times. Purify my motives and deepen my faith so my giving reflects my love for You. Thank You for seeing beyond the surface and valuing what is done in sincerity. Amen.