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Authentic FaithJanuary 15, 2008And in [the course of] His teaching, He said, Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and [to get] greetings in the marketplaces [public forums], 39And [have] the front seats in the synagogues and the chief couches (places of honor) at feasts, 40Who devour widows' houses and to cover it up make long prayers. They will receive the heavier [sentence of] condemnation. 41And He sat down opposite the treasury and saw how the crowd was casting money into the treasury. Many rich [people] were throwing in large sums. 42And a widow who was poverty-stricken came and put in two copper mites [the smallest of coins], which together make half of a cent. 43And He called His disciples [to Him] and said to them, truly and surely I tell you, this widow, [she who is] poverty-stricken, has put in more than all those contributing to the treasury. 44For they all threw in out of their abundance; but she, out of her deep poverty, has put in everything that she had--[even] all she had on which to live. -Mark 12:38-44 (Amplified Edition) This week's scripture contains two different stories. Together these stories highlight different models of living faithfully. The first story highlights the behavior of some of the scribes, the religious establishment of Jesus' day. As Jesus watched them, he warned his disciples to not follow their leadership. Some of the scribes got so caught up in the role they were playing, they lost their holy purpose. What they presented themselves to be and who they really were in their heart were two different things. The second story focuses on a lone widow who no one seemed to notice except Jesus. We don't know anything about her aside from the fact that she put in the temple treasury two of the least valued coins in circulation. It was not the shockingly small amount that caught Jesus' attention, rather it was the fact that she gave everything that she had. Through her actions, the widow demonstrated total and complete dependence upon God. The scripture for this week is not about being rich or poor; rather it is about faithful living. The stories contrast the religious leaders (scribes) who are proud and greedy, with the widow who is humble and generous. As people of faith, the scribes had grown comfortable in their abundance. I am sure they believed that God is good, since their lives were playing out in their favor. The faith of the scribes was comfortable, but faith is not always about comfort. Faith involves dependence. The faith of the widow came from a place deep within. Her life was nothing to sing and dance about; it was hard living. Her giving that day was a sign of authentic faith. Although it is easy to make faith a facade that we show to others, it is not real until it penetrates our very core. How can we tell if someone is living an authentic faith verses a perfunctory faith? In some cases we can't tell. Jesus was paying attention and knew what was behind each person's actions. Perhaps the challenge for us is to not figure out who is real and fake, but to examine our own spiritual core. How much do we REALLY depend upon God verses how much do we SAY we depend upon God? Prayer: Search me, O God. Rekindle in me an authentic faith that does not seek recognition. Teach me to depend upon you in all things. Amen. For more informationRev. Leigh Martin |
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