Mark 12:41-44
41And he sat down over against the treasury, and beheld how the multitude cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. 42And there came a poor widow, and she cast in two mites, which make a farthing. 43And he called unto him his disciples, and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, This poor widow cast in more than all they that are casting into the treasury: 44for they all did cast in of their superfluity; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
Scripture Testimony Index stories for this passage
Hudson Taylor diligently studied the scripture to understand God's command about tithing. This led him not just to give his 10% but his whole income and life towards the work of the Kingdom of God.
An old woman gave three shillings out of her meagre pension, and a little boy gave the entire contents of his moneybox, both to support the Goforths in the all-important task of telling people about Jesus
After he had a dream about fighting Manchurian bandits, a little boy gave all his savings to support the mission work in Manchuria. The amazing story of this boy’s giving when told to an audience in Boston challenged the people to give enough money to support two evangelists in Manchuria for year.
Moved by a story she read of the famine in China, a poor widow gave out her all to support the victims, without knowing where help will come from for her. But the God in whom she trusted was faithful to provide for her soon afterwards!
In a move that surprised many and even brought about opposition from close friends, the Stokes, on their honey moon, were led—and they obeyed—to resign their jobs and give away all their savings to missionary causes and to trust God alone for their supplies.
A poor widow sold her house—her only possession—and donated all of the proceeds to support the orphan work. All attempts, including one by George Müller, to dissuade her from giving away all of the money were rebuffed; her mind was made up to give God everything.
When a very poor seamstress donated a hundred pounds to the orphan work out of the meagre amount she received as legacy from her grandmother's estate, George Müller asked to know why she made such a donation and her golden reply was, “The Lord Jesus has given His last drop of blood for me, and should I not give Him this hundred pounds?”
At two different times in the autumn of 1841 when needs were most dire in the orphanages, the Lord used the seemingly insignificant donations of a poor woman and an anonymous donor to provide exactly what was needed at the time.
The poorest Christian in the Tungliao church, responds to the plea to give so a plot of land could be purchased on which their church was to be built by selling the very best pig on his farm and giving all the proceeds for this noble cause.
Hudson Taylor shares two stories of believers going out of their way to support God's work as best they could; from a widowed woman giving away a most priced possession for the sake of the work, to a young boy giving his all and an old man giving according to his means; all for the same reason.
Her personal needs and those of her kids notwithstanding, a poor mother of two was glad to part with the last fifty cents she had so she could support a neighbour in need. And as she gave away this sum, she was blessed to receive much more in return.
Miss Lucy R. Drake shares her experience of learning to live by faith, foregoing her salary and trusting in God to provide for her needs. She recounts instances where she asked God for money for herself or for her missionary work, the amazing answers to those prayers and her unwavering confidence in God's will even when some of her prayers did not get answered.
Poor old George was a blind and almost deaf fellow who having received Christ into his life gave sacrificially—and without fail—from his meagre income to support the work of God. His earthly disabilities only created a longing for heaven where he will be truly free to worship His savior.
Rees Howells and his team began to help the less privileged around them. This burden was too great on their own; they had to depend on the Lord. One day, a man gave his "widow's offering" to meet their need. Through this process, they learned to rely on the Lord and the Lord provided.
Like the widow who gave her all, Dr. Andrew Stirret gave his all—which was by no means small—to the Sudan Interior Mission, and in an audacious display of faith, decided to trust the Lord for his sustenance going forward!
Unlike his traveling companions and much like the poor widow who gave her all, a Christian elder emptied his purse and gave all to a bigger who asked for his help. As they continued on the journey, his companions were astonished as they watched God meet his every need!
Corrie and Ellen visit an old Christian woman in Russia. She was afflicted with multiple sclerosis and could control nothing on her body but her index finger. But with that one finger and with the help of her aged husband; she typed every day; translating the Bible and Christian literature into Russian and Latvian, and she prayed for the authors while working. Like the poor widow in the Bible, she had given her all to the Lord!