All She Had

All of our children have been involved in musical and dramatic performances, and other types of presentations. On some of those occasions, especially on the last of a series, I have encouraged them to leave it all out there on the stage, to hold nothing back, to give it everything they have. “After all,” I’ve said, “you will never do it again.” I am trying to abide by this counsel in my own “performances” –when I write, preach, present and preside. Comparatively speaking, it is relatively simple to follow this advice for a singular event, yet quite another to heed this guidance for the stewardship of all our time, talent, and treasure.

In Mark 12:41-44, Jesus observed a woman who gave “all she had.” He had deliberately seated Himself so as to watch people put their offerings in the treasury. The context leads us to believe that many of them enjoyed being seen as they contributed. Among the rich came also a poor widow, placing two small copper coins in the collection box that amounted to a cent. Jesus declared to his disciples that she had given more than all the others, since they had given out of their surplus. She, on the other hand, had given “out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”

It should encourage us to know that we can give out of our poverty, since we often don’t feel like we have much “surplus.” But next this story forces us to ask within our own context, “How do I give all I have of my time, talent, and treasure to anything? How do I give all I have to live on?” Is that what it takes to please the Master? Is that how I do stewardship? If so, how in my world do I do that?

First of all, I need to understand my time, talent, and treasure within the framework of Christian stewardship. That is, that these are all gifts from God, and that He desires that I use and apply these gifts for His purposes in the world, which are represented by a myriad of churches and other ministries. Next, in my world, one that is chocked full of choices, I have to discern which church, ministries, or causes God has called me to participate in. This process can be perplexing. However, with prayer and consideration of our spiritual gifts and abilities, our passions, personality, and experience, I have found that God will lead us to where He wants us to join Him in His work.

Now comes the hard part. How do I emulate the poor widow? How do I give “all I have” to my church, a ministry, or a Christian organization God has called me to support? And is God really asking me to give my last “cent” for this work? Probably not, but, perhaps, the following perspective will help you as it has helped me.

If God cares enough to call us to participate in a particular church, ministry, or cause, it is reasonable to believe that He has given us time, talent, and treasure for it—especially for it! Our task, then, is not to decide how much of our time, talent, and treasure we will give to the cause, but to discern what God has given us—for that work—and give it all to the work! This is true Christian stewardship—understanding that our time, talents, and treasures are God’s resources and that He has entrusted them to us that we might faithfully enable His work in the world.

How do we do this? I understand it is easier to articulate than achieve, but I hope you will find these suggestions helpful. First of all, our church, ministry, or organization should be bathed in personal prayer. Fervent prayer is always the first participation to which God calls us. Secondly, we should earnestly pray about what shape our God-given time and talents will take within, and for the work. Thirdly, we should humbly ask God what measure of the treasure He has given us He intends for us to provide as financial support. When we have discovered these things, we have discovered “all we have” for our unique calling, and now we can emulate the poor widow and give “all we have” back to God.

This is our best for God, and God’s best for us. When I was a boy we sang an old gospel song in my church entitled Our Best. I always loved the tune and the message. These are the words of the first verse and chorus:

Hear ye the Master’s call, give Me thy best.
For be it great or small, that is His test.
Do then the best you can, not for reward;
Not for the praise of men, but for the Lord.

Ev’ry work for Jesus will be blest,
But He asks from ev’ry one his best.
Our talents may be few, these may be small,
But unto Him is due our best, our all.

Thank you, Lord, for time, talent, and treasure supplied to me by Your grace. May I be a gracious steward of these gifts—giving my best, holding nothing back, and leaving it all on the stage for the glory of Your Kingdom!