Daily Devotionals

Unselfish Giving

Posted in Stewardship/Giving

Scripture: “Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you; this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.’” – Mark 12:41-44

Throughout my internship at Eastminster this summer, our group has been given opportunities to reach out and offer a helping hand to many different people. One of these experiences that I will remember forever was at the home of a woman in need, who taught me about giving from the heart.

The Eastminster Experience (E2) interns and youth worked with Home Works of America to repair Ms. Doreen’s roof. Previously, she had paid someone else to have her roof redone only for the company to leave holes in the wood under the shingles, and many shingles were installed upside down. Due to these errors, rain leaked constantly through her roof.

Throughout our three days on this project, we could see her gratitude through the smile on her face and the tears in her eyes. On the last day after we finished re-roofing her home, Ms. Doreen showed her thankfulness by cooking hotdogs and giving us a meal to eat.

Today’s scripture from Mark 12 speaks about a woman with so little to give, but she still generously drops some of her very few coins into the temple treasury. Likewise, Ms. Doreen can be seen as the woman in this story, because she gave unselfishly to us even though she didn’t have much to give. This act truly showed the kindness and gratefulness that Ms. Doreen has in her heart.

I am grateful for this experience to learn about unselfish giving.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for experiences like this that help me grow closer to you. Please help me remember this story of unselfish generosity taught by unexpected people in unexpected places. Amen. 

Submitted by Hill Teas, E2 Intern 

(Hill is a rising Sophomore at Clemson University, and the son of Buz and Amy Teas.)