Session 4

Mind Over Matter

From Finding Your Financial Path

On the old TV show, “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous,” host Robin Leach toured mansions and yachts, giving an inside look at the lives of the filthy rich. Compared to multi-millionaires, our earnings seem miniscule. But God is not impressed by our account balances. He is obsessed with the condition of our hearts.

Mark 12 tells the story of a broke widow who went to the temple to worship. Wealthy people walked by the treasury, dropping in huge sums of money. But when the poor widow put in her gift, all she had to give were two copper coins. The value was barely half a cent.

When Jesus saw the widow’s offering, He told His disciples that she gave more than all the others. The rich gave out of their abundance, but she put in everything she had. She gave it all, trusting God to meet her needs.

Think About:
1. Are you giving out of abundance or giving sacrificially?
2. What is your next step when it comes to giving?
3. Comparing our gifts to others’ gifts almost always ends in competition. Have you ever been caught in the comparison trap? What did you learn from that experience?

Pray:
Jesus, thank You for being more concerned with the state of my heart than the size of my gift. Help me to grow more generous like You.