38 Grandmother's Precious Ring
Pastor Jack made the call for the weekly tithes and offering during the church service. Pastor Jack stepped back and casually observed the audience as the deacons passed around the offering plates. As always, some people giving money, while others put in offering envelopes. However, Pastor Jack noticed that little Mary Sue took off the ring that her grandmother had given her just before she passed away. He was shocked to see Mary Sue cheerfully put the ring into the offering plate.
Pastor Jack called one of the deacons over to him and then he took out the ring from the offering plate. Then Pastor Jack called Mary Sue to the front of the church and he knelt down beside her.
"Mary Sue, don't you know this is a precious ring from your grandmother?" asked Pastor Jack.
Mary Sue smiled and nodded her head in acknowledgement.
"While I appreciate your earnestness, Mary Sue, please take this ring back. I can't accept this! This is a family heirloom! You should keep this!" said Pastor Jack as he tried to hand the ring back to Mary Sue.
Mary Sue gently pushed Pastor Jack's hand away and told him, "I'm not giving this ring to you, Pastor Jack! I'm giving this ring to God!"
In the book of Luke, Jesus noted how the offering of a poor widow was greater than the donations offered by anyone else that day, even though she only threw in two mites into the treasury. It was not the monetary amount that impressed Jesus, but the sacrifice she made and the earnest motive she had in promoting the work of God. Ellen G. White once said that it is the motive that gives character to our acts, stamping them with dishonor or high moral worth, no matter how seemingly minor that act. Please remember the example of the poor widow!
- Recommended reading: Mark 12:41-44
