TOPIC:‌“The God of the Seeing Eye” (Stewardship Sunday)

                  by Rev. Dr. Reg Dunlap

 

TEXT:‌Mark 12:41-44

 

‌‌“And having sat down opposite the treasury, He was viewing with a

‌‌discerning eye how the crowd throws money into the treasury”

‌‌(Mark 12:41, Wuest)

 

‌The Bible has much to say about the searching eyes of God. How they pierce and penetrate into our hearts exposing our inner flaws and failures. Give ear to these words of Scripture: “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth” (II Chronicles 16:9). Or again: “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3).

 

‌Now this very thing, I suggest, we find our Lord doing one day as His discerning eyes were actively and attentively engaged in observing how the people were casting their money into the treasury. Let us picture the scene. We find Jesus in Herod's Temple, in the court of the Women, where there were thirteen large, brazen chests, often called “trumpets” which were placed at various places around the walls each marked for a special offering.

 

‌A religious festival was now in process. People were coming from all around the countryside, from distances far away to cast their offerings into the trumpet shaped chests. Some cast in big gifts, while others cast in small gifts. Some gave out of habit, compulsion and fear, while others gave out of obedience, devotion and love. Some were happy to give, while others were hesitant to give. And still others went so far as to make a mockery out of their giving because it was done for display and not out of devotion. They even went so far as to cast in many pieces of copper so to make the trumpets sound off in the ears of the people.

 

‌With a discerning eye Jesus looks on with interest as He beholds a poverty-stricken widow come to deposit two copper coins - together they were worth about half an American cent - into the collection box. Immediately our Lord responds with these words: “Verily I say unto you, this poor widow has cast more in than all they who have cast into the treasury” (v. 43).

 

‌So it is, my friends, the ever-searching eyes of Christ were attracted to a small, poor widow who gave a very small measure, but who in giving it, gave all that she had. And the same eyes are watching us - observing the way and the will we cast our gifts into the collection plate. I wonder: What does Christ behold as He looks at our gifts and the spirit in which we give it? Let's examine the text a little closer to find the answer.

 

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