City Light Live: What God Measures - Video

As Jesus looked up, he 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.” Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.” “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?” He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”Luke 21: 1-9 God is watching how you give-what you are trusting in- rather than what you give. . When we give in full view of others, we receive our reward - the admiration of others. But while human eyes and human ears would overlook this widow's gift, God sees, and declares that the small coins the widow offers are a much greater sacrifice than the giving of others around her. Like the widow, we should trust God to take what we give and make much of it. When we give with the proper spirit, God can and does do this even out of scarcity. The temple being admired in this text was sturdy and full of splendor, but as he did with the widow's sacrifice, Jesus sees the temple's true substance. The white marble stones of the temple couldn’t hide the predatory nature of those within it. And Jesus saw to the heart of the matter when he told the crowds that not one stone of the temple would be left standing on another. The people here saw the temple's incredible appearance, but Christ could see its coming destruction due to the wickedness within it. The temple was destroyed, but now the temple is being built with living stone--those whom God saves--as a holy nation of people for God’s possession and a kingdom of priests. The crowds ask Jesus when the foretold destruction will happen and he reveals that it won't happen all at once, but it will happen slowly, after rumors and wars and tumults. He reminds his people they are not alone and calls them to faithfulness.