Surplus Wealth

In the course of his teaching Jesus said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation.” He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. 

Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, “Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.” (Mark 12:38-44)

 According William Barclay: “Real giving must be sacrificial.  The amount of the gift never matters so much as its costs to the giver, not the size of the gift, but the sacrifice.  Real generosity gives until it hurts.  For many of us it is a real question if ever our giving to God’s work is any sacrifice at all.  

Few people will do without their pleasures to give a little more to the work of God.  It may well be a sign of the decadence of the church and the failure of our Christianity that gifts have to be coaxed out of church people, and that often they will not give at all unless they get something back in the way of entertainment or of goods.  There can be few of us who read this story without shame.”

Scottish scholar Barclay wrote his opinion in 1954.  Has much changed since then?  There is much truth to what he said.  However, it can be argued that giving from surplus wealth is admirable and needed. 

Today’s economy places many people in economic jeopardy.  Sacrifice for God’s work by families giving away that which is needed for their children’s welfare, for example, is not God’s work. 

Perhaps the best way to address Barclay’s reasoning is to remember that many people in need appreciate generosity and charity whether from surplus wealth or not.  At CTK many parishioners show that generosity, and for that we are all grateful.

Deacon David Pierce