From Luke 21:1-4; Mark 12:41-44, and the story in Seers, Sayers, Schemers & Saints:

Shuffling up to the contribution box attracted no one’s notice. The priests busied themselves with their work and with the better-dressed members of the temple. Lots of older women, many of them widows, moved in and out of the temple during the day. This one in particular fretted about her money but felt compelled to give something back to the Lord. Despite her current status in society, so much good infused her life that she sensed the Lord’s graciousness all around her. Even today, she had heard a new rabbi teaching about the Lord’s concern for widows. His words seemed intended especially for her. The Lord notices widows and orphans, even if the religious leaders busy themselves elsewhere. With a grateful heart, she dropped two small coins—literally all the money she possessed—into the box. No worries, the Lord provides. Moving back through the crowds, she left to discover that provision for the day.

One afternoon Jesus was with his disciples, teaching in the temple in Jerusalem. He had just finished excoriating the religious teachers of day, denouncing them as men who love to both “devour widow’s houses” and show off with long, pretentious prayers. Let all of us who spend time talking about God and how to live a life pleasing to him note that Jesus used his most damning language against religious hypocrites. This teaching emphasis should never be far from our minds and hearts.

Just as Jesus ended his sentence about widow’s houses and those who would devour them, he looked up and what did he see? A widow making a contribution. Jesus could see that she was poor and Jesus could see what she gave. The widow dropped two small copper coins in the offering box. Older English versions of the Bible call a coin like this a “mite.” These were the smallest and least valuable coins in circulation in Judea at that time. It’s hard to know the value of these coins relative to today’s monetary system, but suffice it to say that at the most, it wouldn’t add up to more than a buck. More shocking than the amount is the fact that Jesus knew that these paltry coins are all the money the widow had to live on. Because he’s Jesus, he could both recognize her financial situation and look into her heart. She had just given all she had. The rich people around her, while giving much greater sums of cash, in no way matched her sacrifice.

I recently watched a television program about a group of billionaires who have pledged to give at least one half of their fortunes away to charity before they die. Without question a worthy goal. Many good causes will benefit and untold lives around the world will be influenced in positive ways. In no way would I ever want to communicate that these gifts are not admirable. This is a good example of how we should give and how we usually give—out of our abundance. If you have been given a great deal, then the right thing to do is to share it with others less fortunate. I have plenty—here, have some of mine.

Nonetheless, Jesus did not applaud that sort of giving. Jesus dismissed it, in a sense, and instead pointed to the widow, who gave all she had to live on, her last dollar. The widow gave sacrificially; she gave, knowing it would hurt. The widow gave, understanding that she may not eat; she gave even though she was impoverished. To my mind, the widow gave foolishly. Yet Jesus praised this manner of giving.

Generosity. That’s the lesson for leaders. Where do you and I need to give? Where do we give politely when we need to give sacrificially? Or even foolishly? This involves our money as Jesus so powerfully points out to us. But giving like this can also apply to our time and our energy and our expertise and our influence. Where do we need to go from being an occasional giver to being a lavish giver? By this I mean a person who is unrestrained, practicing a generosity that you will feel in the morning. What would it take for you to become a truly generous person?

Ponder this idea for a minute—if you were a multi-billionaire, where would you spend your money? Would you buy yachts or mansions or islands? Personally, I would buy the St. Louis Cardinals and give everyone in the stands a free slice of pizza every time a Cardinal hit a home run. How about you? Could you give away half of your fortune? Or maybe up to ninety-nine percent? Let’s face it, most of us won’t get the chance to control billions of dollars or own our favorite sports franchise. But all of us will be and have been given something. Most of us will be given money and resources far in excess of what other people around the world possess and far more than people throughout history even dreamed of.

How will you deal with your wealth? Will you take the risk of living generously? Jesus instructed us to look to the widow. The widow gave it all. Deliberate on this aggressive teaching, maybe the most challenging words of Jesus to our affluent ears today. Give sacrificially. Give in a way that costs you something. As a leader, think often of the widow as you think of living generously.