Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crow putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything-all she had to live on."
(Mark 12:41-43)
This passage is so moving because the poor widow put everything she had into the temple. That is why Jesus was so moved and wanted His disciples to notice -- she had faith. Throughout the Bible, Jesus speaks about giving up your possessions in order to put your trust in God. This makes people very vulnerable because, even back in Jesus' time, people deem their value and worth on their jobs and material possessions- putting other things before the Lord. In other words people create 'false idols' or 'other gods' which they focus on and become obsessed with. The poor widow defies this by giving all she had to live on to the temple.
In those days, when a woman's husband died and there was no next of kin to take care of her, she would fall into the care of the temple and become poverty stricken. The wealthy people certainly donated more money, but the poor widow put her entire faith into the temple, and in front of everyone she put everything she had into the donation box - as if she was saying, "I trust you (all the people of the temple), you all can take care of me because God will provide for me." The widow gave up all she had, all the comforts and possessions, and lifted all her problems to the Lord because she trusted in His plan for her.
