Meridian Magazine - When All We Can Offer Is Two Tiny Mites

 

  Offerings of the Heart

We wish we knew the rest of the story of the widow. But we can surmise. We know, for example, that an eternal law governs the payment of tithes and offerings.Windows of heaven burst open when such faith is manifested.[iv] This poor widow had come to the temple to make an offering.

Another law of heaven states that we must ask to receive,[v] and we must knock for the Lord to open unto us.[vi] Additionally, we know that in the process of asking and knocking, we must also make a sacrifice or our prayer is vain.[vii] This widow had come to the temple to ask, knock and make a sacrifice.

If this widow was fasting that day--and we suppose that she was--the law of the fast also calls for a sacrifice,[viii] which, as we noted, the widow came to the temple to make. We are told that the law of the fast yields incredible blessings such as relieving heavy burdens, allowing the oppressed to go free, and breaking every yoke that holds us captive.[ix] Would these blessings not be available to her for applying this law?

Finally, we are taught that temple service summons some of the most powerful blessings available to God’s children. The widow’s temple would certainly have qualified her to claim such blessings.

With confidence, we believe that life changed for this widow. Perhaps the hearts of her husband’s family softened towards her. Maybe someone took pity on her or money began to show up unexpectedly. Could it be that another man came into her life and rescued her from an existence of loneliness and poverty? Any number of things could have happened, and we have every reason to believe that they did. Why? Because we know who took notice of her!

We can take lessons from this widow. When we find ourselves lonely, lacking, desperate, and in some way impoverished, we can likewise summon faith and approach the Lord with the purpose of giving him all that we have left to give. That sacrifice is called the sacrifice of the heart.

Likely, when we make our pitiful offering we will wonder, Is it enough?

We might even ask ourselves, Will he see me? Will my two tiny mites attract the attention of the God of heaven? Will he hear my prayer? Does he know me? Does he know what I’m going through? Will he help me?

The answer is yes.

Meridian Magazine - When All We Can Offer Is Two Tiny Mites