* Let's Talk Percentages

Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins.

Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.” 

Mark 12:41-44 NLT

Relax - I'm not going to ask you for money! Let's talk percentages. 

The two coins the widow dropped in the collection box were lepta. Two of them equaled one quadrans. One quadrans equaled 1/64th of a daily wage. So, if she'd 128 lepta, she would have had equal to a day's wage. She had only two. It was all she had and she gave it all. That's 100%.

In today's time, for a little perspective, multiply your hourly wage by 8 (or 10, depending on how many hours per day) and divide by 64.  That's all you have. What would you do with it? Selah...

When it comes to money, God doesn't require 100%. He calls for a tithe - 10%. However, when He calls for your heart, He wants it all. 

Prayer:

Father, 

          We want to be cheerful givers in every way. We want to love You with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength, and we want to love our neighbors as ourselves. Teach us to love, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen