Mark 11-12

Mark 12:28-44 (The Message)
The Most Important Commandment

29-31Jesus said, "The first in importance is, 'Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.' And here is the second: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' There is no other commandment that ranks with these."

32-33The religion scholar said, "A wonderful answer, Teacher! So lucid and accurate—that God is one and there is no other. And loving him with all passion and intelligence and energy, and loving others as well as you love yourself. Why, that's better than all offerings and sacrifices put together!"

34When Jesus realized how insightful he was, he said, "You're almost there, right on the border of God's kingdom."

You're almost there! Right when you realise you have reached the end of yourself, that you can never love God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength! For the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17), and God will love YOU with all His heart, with all His Soul, and with all His mind, and with all His strength!!!

41-44Sitting across from the offering box, he was observing how the crowd tossed money in for the collection. Many of the rich were making large contributions. One poor widow came up and put in two small coins—a measly two cents. Jesus called his disciples over and said, "The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they'll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn't afford—she gave her all."


I'm pondering about this verse. I asked Daddy why it's here, especially when the preceding verses talk about loving Daddy with your everything. When I saw the words, "she gave her all", it just hit me!

Could it be, that one sure way to express your love to Daddy is through your offering? I'm not saying that putting money in the offering equates to loving God with your everything, but I'm saying that if you really really love God, you gotta put your money where your mouth is.

Money is so close to everyone's heart, and Pastor teaches us that faithful people are recognised through their tithes. So if you are willing to part with your money and give it to Jesus, that makes a bold statement in the eyes of God. Someone confirm this with me!