A few days since, while visiting the United States mint, I was deeply impressed with various objects of interest that I saw there.
The scales for weighing metals, to the amount of one hundred thousandth part of an ounce. The dies, for stamping coin, requiring a pressure of eighty tons. Here, I saw the coin used by different nations; some of great value, others of less. But what impressed me the most was a piece of money called, the widow’s mite; supposed to be worth one half farthing.
I gazed with intense interest upon the widow’s mite; and at the same time, my thoughts ran back to the time, when Jesus stood opposite the treasury, and saw the rich casting in their abundance, unto the Lord, when along came a poor widow, and cast in two mites. How little, I thought, as I compared “the mite,” with the large pieces of silver and gold that were upon either side. I presume that many that witnessed the above transaction, recorded by St. Mark, thought, “how insignificant the offering.” There was one present, whose eye of flame penetrates the very intents of the heart, thought differently. He, declaring to the multitude that, the poor widow’s mite was in His estimation, greater than the large amounts cast in by the rich. There are reasons, why, the blessed Jesus put such high value on the widow’s MITE.
First, she made sacrifice of all her living. She gave to the extent of her ability. In making her consecration, she did not retain a part, as did Ananias and Saphira; but placed herself squarely upon the Gospel platform, where she could fully trust the Lord, and claim His favor. Jesus says, “Give, and it shall be given to you; good measure pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with what measure ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”
Second. She gave, CHEERFULLY—“For God loveth a cheerful giver.”
“For if there be first a willing mind it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.”
Thirdly. She gave her mite, in faith; for what is not of faith is sin. She doubtless realized, that all of our offerings to God must be in faith in order to be acceptable. Many lose their reward in giving, because they do not give cheerfully, but grudgingly; not to the extent of their ability, nor as much as the case demands, or conscience, and the Holy Ghost says give; not in faith, but doubting, because an unwillingness on their part to walk in the light.
This class never prove the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ; “pressed down, shaken together, and running over.” Jesus says, “That it is more blessed to give than to receive.” Glory to God!
Here, is encouragement to give of our substance as God hath prospered us. There is no investment that we can make with our goods that pays so well as to give to him that needeth; and especially, to the house-hold of faith. And to those that have but a mite to give, it shall receive its reward; if it be to the extent of our ability, if it be done cheerfully; and if in faith, because we love God, and the souls and bodies of perishing men.