Mark 12:42

And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny.

Luke 18:22

When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

Acts 5:2

and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

For those of us that have studied God’s Word we know the context for each of these tales. The widow who had nothing, the rich man who kept everything and Ananias and Sapphira who withheld a portion for themselves.

In the past I have asked others to share their understanding, looking for others that saw things as I understood them. Sadly not many shared in my understanding, and that is fair. So rather than ask, I will share what I see.

Devotion.

The meaning came to me as I listened to various speeches about D-Day. “They gave their last ounce of devotion.” The measure of devotion to God for each of these people is found in what is said about these people.

The Widow

Mark 12:43

And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box.

The Rich man

Luke 18:24

Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!

Ananias and Sapphira

Acts 5:4

While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.”

The one thing they have in common is showing their measure of devotion. I cannot help but see that it is possible to see all of us fit somewhere within those boundaries of extreme measures of devotion. That is not a matter of judgment so much as it is understanding.

2 Timothy 3 English Standard Version

Godlessness in the Last Days

1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. 9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.

If the days of prophecies are coming to an end, heeding the warnings become ever more important. Just how many more chances do we have to get this right?

2 Timothy 3:13

while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

Are we hearing more and more lies these days? What better time is there to seek out the truth.

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Man of God should be read as a messenger of God (the phrase echoes a common Old Testament expression) meaning both men and women.

Get equipped and get to work or let the arrogant have their way. Do we understand?