Bible Study - Women of Faith (5) - The Poor Widow: Faith that Gives - Luke 12:13-21; 21:1-4 - June 30, 2019

Bible Study – Women of Faith (5) – The Poor Widow: Faith that Gives – June 30, 2019

This is lesson five (5) in our series entitled “Living by Faith: Women Who Trusted GOD.”

Our focus scripture is Luke 12:13-21; 21:1-4.

Your giving reflects your faith and trust in CHRIST.

Giving is also trusting GOD to provide for your needs.

In my later years GOD is teaching me when we see the angry waves of life that we look beyond what we see but trust HIM for the result. As HIS children we are to look beyond what we see to what HE says HE will do. We must keep our eyes focused upon HIM and HIS ability to provide. Doing so builds our faith and trust in GOD as we obediently walk with HIM.

When JESUS walked upon water, the Apostle Peter asked JESUS if he could join HIM. JESUS, said yes. As long as Peter kept his eyes fixed upon JESUS, Peter walked on water but when he took his eyes off JESUS and began to look around, Peter began to sink. JESUS had to reach out and save him. Matthew 14:26-31:

"It's a ghost!" they said, and cried out in fear.

27 Immediately Jesus spoke to them. "Have courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

28 "Lord, if it's You," Peter answered Him, "command me to come to You on the water."

29 "Come!" He said. And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus.

30 But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid. And beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me!"

31 Immediately Jesus reached out His hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?

In our lesson today, we have a two-fold teaching event. JESUS told the parable of the rich fool of abundance and later the widow’s small contribution. Let’s explore!

Let’s read Luke 12:13-15:

The Parable of the Rich Fool

¹³ Someone from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

¹⁴ “Friend,”^[d] He said to him, “who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?” ¹⁵ He then told them, “Watch out and be on guard against all greed because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.”

JESUS set the stage for teaching on giving and sharing prompted by a question from HIS audience. We must keep in mind that JESUS knew the heart of the person asking the question.

We know from Jewish law that the older brother in a family received a greater part of an inherence over other siblings in the family when their dad died. The responsibility of caring for their mother and the property was the responsibility of the older brother.

JESUS immediately interpreted the question as coming from a heart of greed and answered the question appropriately; Greed prompts us to act in certain ways.

It is generally easy to share from our abundance but difficult when things are tight. The age-old question always pops up, “How much is enough?”

Often, our self-sufficiency is a hurdle we have to overcome when we give. I know, I battle it most of the time.

But there is a very key factor we all must consider when we store up material things upon earth and that is death. How we use our resources often reflects our attitude toward GOD. How does GOD want us to use our resources? Who provides our resources GOD or us? Or is it a joint venture?

Let’s read Luke 12:16-21:

¹⁶ Then He told them a parable: “A rich man’s land was very productive. ¹⁷ He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? ¹⁸ I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. ¹⁹ Then I’ll say to myself, “You^[e] have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”’

²⁰ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’

²¹ “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

In this parable the “rich man” had plenty and his first thoughts were to store his bounty and enjoy his riches. He did not think of sharing. Notice the number of times he used “I” and “my.” In Biblical times, GOD was considered to be the source of wealth and health. In this parable it is clear that this rich man was patting himself on the back for his good fortune therefore he accumulated his bounty for his use. This is a reflection of his heart. This a message to us all.

Wisdom comes from GOD and we are to consult GOD on how to us that which GOD has blessed us. HE may tell us to build and store but HE may say share. As GOD’S Children, HE needs to direct out actions, as HE blesses us. GOD’S desire is for us to be wise and seek HIS wisdom to share or to store.

Consider, Joseph in Egypt. GOD gave a dream to the Pharaoh; which GOD gave its interpretation to Joseph. GOD revealed to Joseph what Egypt should do with their bountiful harvest. Seek GOD’S guidance and wisdom.

We do not know what lies ahead of us but GOD does. Trust HIM to lead and guide us as we obediently serve HIM. Death is the great equalizer, rich or poor. Where do we wish to store that which GOD has blessed us – earth or heaven?

This leads us to JESUS’ next teaching. Often, we think, “Oh, if only I could win the lottery, I would do so-and-so.” JESUS taught us to use our resources as HE directs and not as we desire, be they large or small.

Later on, in Luke we read -----

Let’s read Luke 21:1-4: (JESUS was observing the actions of those placing offerings into the temple treasury.)

The Widow’s Gift

21 He looked up and saw the rich dropping their offerings into the temple treasury. ² He also saw a poor widow dropping in two tiny coins.^{[a] 3} “I tell you the truth,” He said. “This poor widow has put in more than all of them. ⁴ For all these people have put in gifts out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”

Often, those who have plenty and give are featured by the media for their generosity. Giving is good. The purpose behind our giving is the key.

JESUS was observing folks putting their offering into the temple treasury. HE observed the rich giving out of their surplus whereas the “poor widow” gave from her “poverty.” What do these two attitudes toward giving reflect?

Do they reflect their attitude toward who they will depend upon to provide for their needs, self or GOD? The rich really did not have to worry much about their next meal whereas this poor widow did. Who would each depend upon to provide their next meal?

JESUS recognized and acknowledged the heart of the poor widow who gave her last resource. She gave all she had and trusted GOD to provide. Did HE?

Often, GOD will test us to help us to see the attitude of our hearts and HIS provision for us. But an important lesson to keep in mind is do not test GOD. Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you to do what you do.

When the Holy Spirit leads us, we will be blessed. When self leads us there will be a teachable moment. In fact, in either situation, there will be a teachable moment.

GOD’S desire is to grow our faith in HIM as our provider. But we may have baggage that needs to be tossed before we can experience living by faith.

Faith is one of the Spiritual gifts. There is wonder working faith which is a gift from GOD. This is the type of faith that the Holy Spirit leads a Christian to sell all that he or she has, give it to the poor and trust GOD to provide for our needs. If GOD has not gifted you with this faith, do not test HIM by selling all that you have and testing GOD to provide. But if HE does lead you, then do it and HE will provide for your needs.

I have a friend who told this story many years ago. My friend had a missionary friend who lived on faith. The missionary came for a visit and to speak in the area. My friend, Hugh, wanted his son to spent time with his missionary friend whose name is John.

John was to pick up my friend’s son to accompany him to a speaking engage at a local school. Before John came to pick up my friend’s son, Hugh told his son, “I have a sport coat upstairs that I think will fit John. Also, here is my credit card fill up John’s car with gas because he never has money to put gas into his car.”

John arrived at my friend’s home. Entered and after greetings, Hugh asked his son to run upstairs to get the sport coat to see if it would fit John. He did and when John slipped the coat on, John said, “Look it fits like it was made for me and look it even matches the pants I am wearing.” Then John told the story that he had prayed and asked GOD for a sport coat because he was speaking at a school and wanted to look his best. But John added that he would speak regardless if he had a jacket or not.

John and Hugh’s son leave to go to the school.

When Hugh’s son returned later that night, Hugh was waiting up eager to find out how things went. Things had gone well. Hugh’s son said “Oh by-the-way, we had not gone very far from our house until John’s car just stopped. John replied, “I am out of gas.” Hugh’s son replied, “Oh dad gave me his credit card and told me to fill your car with gas.” They pushed the car to a nearby station and filled the car with gas.

That is living on faith and depending upon GOD to provide. But GOD led John to trust HIM for resources. These are exciting stories which we, as Christians, may be tempted to test GOD to see if HE will provide for us.

When our LORD leads, HE provides. When HE leads trust HIM to provide.

How do we measure up? Blessings!!!