Morning Devotional 071225 God Loves a Cheerful Giver

Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room

July 12, 2025

Luke 21:1-4

1 Looking up, Jesus saw rich people throwing their gifts into the collection box for the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow throw in two small copper coins worth a penny. 3 He said, “I assure you that this poor widow has put in more than them all. 4 All of them are giving out of their spare change. But she, from her hopeless poverty, has given everything she had to live on.”

Good Morning! And now, let the poor say, I am rich!

It is easier to give out of our abundance. Yesterday, at the church yard sale, a woman gathered several useful items, including a cooler with wheels, so that she could get her treasures back home. The cooler wasn’t just a handy container to house her items. She was walking home because she had no vehicle. 

I noticed that none of her items were extravagant; all were practical, useful things to help her live what I assume to be a meager life. She was excited to find such values among the tables of goods. As she approached the table to pay, I heard her mumbling that she hoped she had enough money to pay for her purchase. 

As she fumbled through the compartments of her wallet, she realized that she was a few dollars short of the total price. She started to open the cooler to find items that she could set aside, but I told her that her shortage would be covered. She was very thankful and happily pulled her cooler of treasures out the door to begin the long walk home. 

I don’t know if the money she had with her was all that she had, but I do know that she had little with which to be frivolous. I certainly won’t miss the money that I chose to cover. I don’t share this story to brag about my offering to help this woman. I share it to help us see that all our blessings come from God, and we are to share all we have with those in need. 

Giving Lord, you bless us abundantly! It is easy to overlook those in need who quietly live meager lives. Help to happily share our blessings with them. Thank you. We love you, Lord! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen

Thought for the day: Do not hesitate to offer what you have to others in the name of Jesus. 

God loves a cheerful giver! Pastor Liz