The Sacrifice of Giving.

Luke 21:1-4
1 As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."

I think this is not necessarily about how much one was willing to give, but how much how much each was unwilling to give. The rich man put in an abundance of money. He was generous about it. He also made an enormous deal about it. Contrast that to the women who gave a pint size amount of money. If you look at it from the perspective of what wasn't given, you can a far different image. Okay, so you don't know how much the rich man had, or better yet how much money he refused to give, but it is a given that the woman didn't resist giving anything. In fact, "out of her poverty [she] put in all she to live on."

I know what some are thinking now...I get to impress God with giving away all my my material belongings and all my money. Absolutely not. It's not a talent show. God doesn't want you to impress him. He wants you to give from your heart. I should also say, it's not just money that's important either.

What are you holding back from God? There are several possibilities that I can think of...

*It could be your spiritual gifts. There may be a perfect project that is meant for you to help and take part of, yet you chicken out.

*It could be your evangelizing efforts. Are you easily turned off when it comes to talking about your Christian faith? It could be someone who needs church and you don't bother giving them guidance to the right place.

*It could be your time and effort. We're all busy with work or school (when it's not summer) and spending time with the family. There's no room to pray quietly or read the Bible, you say. You're even too busy to make it to church on Sunday.

*It could be your self-centered attitude. You may buy all these items in order to look good or something to satisfy your desires. Still, you can't sacrifice one purchase and put it towards something that will benefit others.

Nonetheless, there are so many things. How can you start to give more (in a general sense)?