all she had to live on

As he taught, he said, ‘Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the market-places, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honour at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.’

 He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.’  Mark 12.

The widow’s mite. This gospel story is often used as the prime example for religious giving.   Used to inspire financial stewardship.  Christians ought to give like her.  100%.  All she had to live on.  In other words, she was broke.  She was as good as dead.  She could not support herself. She would depend on God and others to help her live, or she would die.  It seems to me that this is an unwise way to live.  She is choosing to become dependent.  We would never suggest to someone that they give away what meager income they had in order to become dependent on others to survive.  Dependency is bad.  Independence, self-sufficiency is good.  Government assistance, for example, continues to carry a negative stigma in this country.  Despite the original and continued intent of such programs, which is not to create a lazy dependent nation of takers, but to lift the poor out of poverty.  Food stamps and Medicaid are disparaged by conservatives as an economic burden the federal government and tax payers ought not to bear.  Are people entitled to food and shelter?  Or must everyone earn what they have?  Unfortunately, these matters have been politicized so that people who talk about poverty and the poor are liberals.  And we are inundated with economic news these days, making our heads hurt. Things like fiscal cliffs and tax policy and pre-Black Friday sales.  Money, money, money.  It’s our obsession.  We grow weary because so few of us seem to have enough.  We never have enough.  Because we make choices we can control and things happen that we can’t control that impact our household finances.  And talking about that is almost as bad as talking about your faith.  So it’s better not to speak about it at all.  After all, it is not appropriate to discuss personal finances.  I have noticed that what poor people do with the money they do have seems to interest people a great deal.  Example: yesterday, a friend was asking me what it means when they brought a low income family food from the warwick community chest, but they noticed the people smoked and had cell phones and a television.  Anytime I mention poverty and the poor among friends, the conversation goes that way.  Maybe there should be certain rules that restrict people in poverty from having access to certain things.  Of course food stamps and other government programs do impose restrictions, but there should be additional restrictions.  Like no tvs or cell phones or cigarettes if your income is below a certain amount.  I met a Vietnam Veteran this week, a proud man who needed food.  His income had changed recently.  He lived alone.  He could no longer work.  He collects no government assistance, but he was food insecure.  So we gave him food.  A veteran making less than $14,000 a year.  I don’t know his whole story. I saw a kid, a teenager, standing on Fruitville Pike with a sign that read;  I am Broke  out of gas.  Anything will help.  God bless.  I gave him $5.00.  Maybe he’ll buy food or gas or drugs or cigarettes.  I don’t know his whole story.        

Jesus suggested that the religious rulers, whose pockets were lined with peasant offerings, literally devoured widows by requiring them to give to the temple treasury. His observation of the widow is an indictment on the wealthy givers, whose proportionate giving is small compared to the widow.  They give out of their abundance.  Truth is:  That’s what all of us do.  On average, Lutherans  give about 2% of income to religious institutions.  Few practicing religious groups do better.  Southern Baptists and Mormons do better.  Most Americans give less than 4% to charity.  67% of US households made financial gifts totaling 289 billion dollars in 2011.  67% of Americans who make less than $100,000 give to religious organizations.  Only 17% of Americans who make over 1 million dollars give to religious organizations.  But households making over 500,000 give nearly 4% away, while families making $50,000 or less give 2% away. Nevertheless, the idea of the 10% religious tithe is more or less a myth.  Americans are generous because Americans have abundance.  Americans have discretionary income. We buy things we do not need and justify them.  Yesterday we participated in scouting for food, annual boy scout food drive.  We handed out plastic bags that we hope will get filled with non-perishables to donate to the Warwick community chest.  We were in a trailer court, putting bags on doors of households that may need food from the community chest.  The adults began debating about which Ipad is better, the regular size or the mini.  A whole conversation ensued about these devices.  They already had iphones and ipods.  Logically, the Ipad is next.  But, which one?  I was thinking, how can they afford these things?  We don’t have a working television right now.

I believe we are confused about money and wealth and poverty.  I believe Jesus took a simpler approach to the conversation.  Here is a poor widow.  She gives her last two coins to the temple treasury.  Her gift is greater than the tithes of all the wealthy.  She gave all.  This poor, dependent, dying widow becomes an example.  Because she becomes Christ.  She gave her life to God and to others.  She did not judge them worthy of her money.  She did not withhold for herself.  She did not worry about tomorrow, her next meal, her own body. She gave herself away.  Was she wise in doing so?  No.  Does her self-imposed dependency make her a social burden?  Yes.  She gave a gift.  A gift to God.  Because God gave her life.  She returned to God the full amount of what God had given her.  Without thought.  There are no makers and takers in the human community, only takers, only recipients.  Everyone of us takes what God gives us.  What we do with that is the basis of economics.  God gave His Son for us.  That we may have life with God.  Give thanks.  Amen.