Give Until it Hurts

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Sitting 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.”

~ Mark 12:41-44 ~
The Message

Have you ever watched a telethon on television? The hosts take turns beseeching viewers to call in and pledge to donate a specific amount. They issue challenges to various groups and individuals, and sometimes those groups and individuals are the ones issuing the challenge to their peers.

Inevitably, before the telethon ends, at least one of the hosts utters this familiar phrase: “Give until it hurts.”

A few years ago, much was made of the fact that Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, and his wife gave $1 billion to charity. I remember looking at my television while the news reporter was telling the story and thinking to myself, “Will they even miss it?”

Coffee shops keep dishes of pennies by the cash register. Customers throw in the pennies they receive in change and other customers use those pennies to complete their payment when they don’t want to break a large bill. I keep a large bowl of pennies on my nightstand and another in my office. Every so often I empty all the loose change in my wallet into one of them because the coins make my purse heavy and I don’t want to be bothered carrying them around. When the bowls become full, I take the change to the grocery store and pour it into the sorting machine, using the funds to pay for a portion of my purchases.

How many of us would bother to pick up a penny — or even several pennies — off the street if we happened upon them?

How deep into your financial coffers would you have to dig before it truly hurt? What would you have to give up in order to give that generously and selflessly? Would it take a donation of only a few pennies for you to feel the impact of your sacrifice or would it require much, much more?

And what exactly would you have to do without? Recently, Starbucks announced that for the first time in its history, earnings in the previous quarter fell. Economists speculate that economic conditions in the United States are compelling many people to bypass that morning $3, $4 or $5 cup of java. Is that all you would have to give up in order to follow the widow’s example or would it take much more?

Jesus knew his destiny, of course. If you study the Gospels, you find numerous instances where he gave the Disciples a preview of what was to come, but they did not understand. They were incapable of comprehending his words. Not until after he had been crucified and appeared to them in his new glorified form did they realize the import of his words.

He knew that he was destined to give his all in order that we would have eternal life. He gave extravagantly what he could not afford: His own life. I believe this scripture passage is yet another illustration of Jesus predicting his own future — the sacrifice he would make for us. He modeled the ultimate act of selfless love, devotion, and commitment for us.

A gift that requires no sacrifice is still a gift, but it lacks the significance of a gift that is made only at great personal cost to the giver. In the case of the widow, it is likely that she had to forgo one of life’s necessities in order to give those two pennies. Perhaps she sacrificed a meal, a warm shawl to keep her warm or wood to burn during the chilly winter evenings. Her generous spirit and compassionate heart compelled her to give until it hurt, but never regret that decision.

This holiday season, there are many opportunities to give. Many families are sacrificing while one of their members serves in the military, perhaps stationed far away on foreign soil. An alarming number of families have lost their homes due to foreclosure, casualties of the real estate market’s decline. Still more are facing unemployment.

You can resolve to give until it hurts . . . or you are at least uncomfortable. You can follow Jesus’ example of unconditional love by giving extravagantly, just as the widow did. Whether you are able, like the widow, to give just a few pennies or substantially more, you will honor the Savior, acknowledge His importance in your life, and be guaranteed to have a merry little Christmas.