January 6 – Devotional

Scripture Reading: Luke 21:1-4

Key Verse: He [Jesus] said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.” – Luke 21:3-4, NRSV

Giving of our time and talent is only part of sharing our gifts as a member of the church. We are also called to support it financially. Maybe you remember being given a coin or two as a child to drop in the collection plate each week as it was passed down the pew. On an annual basis, those coins probably did not add up to much monetarily, they were immeasurably important. Through those coins we learned the Biblical practice of giving our tithes and offerings to God. We learned to give without expectation of receiving something in return. We learned to be generous. The widow in today’s Scripture passage was more than generous. In a story that spans

just four short verses, Jesus teaches us the meaning of sacrificial giving. How does your giving stack up? Scarce, generous, or sacrificial?

Pray: 

• When have you been like the widow and given sacrificially, and what was the result? What would the impact be on our church if you increased your giving by forgoing a cup of coffee shop coffee each day or a weekly dinner out?
• Considering your time, talent, and financial resources, which do you find easiest to give to the church and why? Which is the most difficult to give and why?
• For which ministry at First Houston United Methodist Church would you be willing to give sacrificially?
• What ministry should our church be willing to sacrifice in order to fund other initiatives and ministries?

Listen: With open eyes, ears, and heart, listen for God to speak to you now and throughout the day.

Share: You can share your thoughts where you feel best. You can share your thoughts in your printed devotional booklet, you can share below in the comments,  you can share a comment on our Facebook page, or you can share a comment on the First Houston United Methodist Church App by following the Daily Devotionals Channel.