Luke 21:1 - 4
Luke 21:1 - 4 “While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people putting their gifts into the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two pennies. ‘I assure you,’ he said, ‘this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.’”
I read a report not too long ago about some of the countries that have contributed to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. People had been asking where all the other countries were when it was our turn to suffer, and the answer came.
France donated generators, supplies, and other tangible assets to help with rescue and cleanup. Other nations donated money, and all this was good to know. But one country brought me to tears. Sri Lanka donated $25,000 to help the victims of Katrina.
This is a nation that suffered devastating loss not even a year ago, when the tsunami hit its coastline. And even before the tsunami, Sri Lanka was a poor nation. But because they knew what it was to suffer and be helped, they gave to help us when we’re suffering. It’s a drop in the bucket compared to what’s needed, but it had to have cost them dearly.
God has told us that we were made in His image, that He has written His word upon our hearts. He planted in each one of us the potential to feel compassion for others and we honor Him when we act on that compassion.
The widow in the Temple, whose poverty taught her the importance of giving to help the poor, gave all she had. A nation devastated by an act of nature understood first-hand the importance of knowing other people cared enough to give, and so they gave.
What devastation, what pain have you suffered that helps you to feel compassion for others facing the same kinds of trials? What was it that helped you get through it?
It may be hard sometimes to bring yourself to emotionally relive your suffering, but it is by remembering the pain that we are able to remember the remedy. Ultimately, Jesus is the Remedy, but He likes to work through us–through poor widows and people whose broken hearts have been healed.
How would He use you to help those around you?
May the Lord sustain you as you give.
Brenda
I read a report not too long ago about some of the countries that have contributed to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. People had been asking where all the other countries were when it was our turn to suffer, and the answer came.
France donated generators, supplies, and other tangible assets to help with rescue and cleanup. Other nations donated money, and all this was good to know. But one country brought me to tears. Sri Lanka donated $25,000 to help the victims of Katrina.
This is a nation that suffered devastating loss not even a year ago, when the tsunami hit its coastline. And even before the tsunami, Sri Lanka was a poor nation. But because they knew what it was to suffer and be helped, they gave to help us when we’re suffering. It’s a drop in the bucket compared to what’s needed, but it had to have cost them dearly.
God has told us that we were made in His image, that He has written His word upon our hearts. He planted in each one of us the potential to feel compassion for others and we honor Him when we act on that compassion.
The widow in the Temple, whose poverty taught her the importance of giving to help the poor, gave all she had. A nation devastated by an act of nature understood first-hand the importance of knowing other people cared enough to give, and so they gave.
What devastation, what pain have you suffered that helps you to feel compassion for others facing the same kinds of trials? What was it that helped you get through it?
It may be hard sometimes to bring yourself to emotionally relive your suffering, but it is by remembering the pain that we are able to remember the remedy. Ultimately, Jesus is the Remedy, but He likes to work through us–through poor widows and people whose broken hearts have been healed.
How would He use you to help those around you?
May the Lord sustain you as you give.
Brenda
posted by BreadBakers at 1:43 PM
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