Building Project

During the last week of His life Jesus was in Jerusalem. It was the Passover and He happened upon an area in the temple court where offerings were given. (Mark 12/Luke 21) Chests were located there where people donated publicly, and during festival season they made special gifts just as we do today. The historian Josephus records that the Temple treasury was the repository of fabulous wealth and that Feast times were a pageant of the wealthy making lavish and ostentatious contributions. Into this busy scene stepped a pauper widow.

Luke tells us that "As He looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins." These coins are also called "minas". In fact, Jewish law at the time did not allow for the giving of less than two minas. No one seems to have noticed when she put her tiny offering into the trumpet-shaped receptacle. She gave by faith, not to be seen by men. She surely didn't know that Jesus saw her. But He did, and He made her an example to us. She proves that everyone can and should give to the work of the ministry. The sad fact is that in most churches about 20% of the people do 80% of the giving and serving. But scripture exhorts everyone to give. Jesus noted that the widow had given "all she had to live on." Though the bible does not command anyone to give all they have, it does tell everyone to give something. If you are a believer who calls Calvary Bible Church your home you should be giving regularly, liberally, and cheerfully. We should expect 100% participation in the financial support of the church.

Scripture teaches us to perform our good works in such a way as to glorify our Father in Heaven. The elders' approach has been to proclaim boldly what the bible says about the believer's responsibility to be generous towards God and to invite our people to respond as their conscience bids them to do so. This should not be our attitude only during this time of expansion but should be a way of life for us. Living is giving. May God bless you as you give joyfully and sacrificially to the building fund.