Her Whole Livelihood

"And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came...she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood." Mark 12:41-44. The rich and the widow. Both were giving. Both letting go of what they held dear. Both serving by giving. Both offering and worshipping, but they couldn't be more opposite. The rich did indeed give much. Much! I mean much is a lot. They must have felt so good giving so much. Obeying and offering. But then we see someone give all. She gives her whole livelihood. Not much, but all. Not in part, but entire. The rich must have been so scared of losing. Of losing gain, control, and comfort. But she, the widow, believed. She trusted beyond the seen. She believed beyond what made sense. She loved. She didn't just love much, but wholly, with utter abandon, which speaks complete trust. God forbid we be a people who gives much out of fear and our need for comfort. Let us give all out of love and adoration and gratitude. Let us begin to believe He is our provider. He is our inheritance. He is in control. He is worthy of our whole livelihood, not holding even a little back. This is how He gives after all. Aren't you thrilled Jesus didn't just give much or pay for much of our sin or die for much of the world? No, He gave all! Loves all! Died for all! Gave up all! Like the widow and like Jesus, holding nothing back, let's give all. All our hearts' devotion. All our time. All our desires and abilities and talents. All of our energy for Him. To His cause. We can give much and indeed be givers, or we can give our whole livelihood, all we live for, and be imitators of Jesus. (additional reading: Matthew 16:24-26; Ephesians 2:4-7) (song: Worth It All by Meredith Andrews https://youtu.be/Dr01i-bCo5Y)

He Has It All

Mark 10:43-45 "...but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." To serve. To give His life. This is our Savior. The obedient Son who waits on His Father's commands. Who joyfully listens for His Father's desires. Who desires no name or face for himself. He knows who He is and who His Father is. How his Father looks at Him with the deepest love possible. He knows His Father's power and comfort and peace. He knows who He is and who His Father is. He doesn't desire to be great among the people or be first. He knows He is the apple of His Father's eye and there is no greater space to behold. He knows He has it all there in that space. It's enough. He trusts this. Perhaps when we are in the same mindset as Jesus, knowing who we are and knowing who our Father is, we are satisfied. We no longer vie for position or desire to be great in the eyes of the spectators. We know who we are and who our Father is. We know the depth of the love He has and is lavishing on us. We know how He draws us with His unfailing kindness. We know the power that rests in and around us. We want to serve our Father. We know what He bids us do is service to Him, and He is so pleased with us. (additional scripture: Philippians 2; Jeremiah 31:3; I John 3:1) (worship song: I shall Not Want by Audrey Assad https://youtu.be/VRnFVMn0uZw)