Mitey mites

This last Sunday was the account of the widow's mite.  You know the story.  If you don't, here's a brief refresher.

Warning Against the Teachers of the Law

³⁸ As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, ³⁹ and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. ⁴⁰ They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”

The Widow’s Offering

⁴¹ Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. ⁴² But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
⁴³ Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. ⁴⁴ They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

Thus far the text.  As I say, you know this story by now, or at least you've probably heard it.  The widow's small copper coins are referred to as mites, little tiny things.  And that's what she tossed into the treasury.  Looked like nothing, of course, but it ended up being everything.  

Now, this is the strange thing about the Christian faith - It's all on a case by case basis.  That is, you don't get to comfort yourself in comparison to someone else.  And that's quite jarring, given how the world in general views the world in general.  Think about the entire advertising industry for a second, if you will.  The entire advertising industry is predicated on the notion that you will be comparing yourselves (usually negatively) with the PEOPLE who are in the advertising campaign.  Yes, folks, it's true.  Take a look at any ad (not that you watch ads anymore), and ask yourself a big ol' question, which is "what are they actually selling me here?"  More than likely, it's not a product, it's a lifestyle that you'll never have, but that you think you want.  And you think to yourself "If only I had this one item, then I'd be those people."  But you won't, because those people don't exist, and never will.

Back to the widow for a second.  In real world terms, she gave very little.  She gave two small copper coins, worth practically nothing.  She gave just a handful of dust, and yet Jesus singled her out for a lesson to be taught here.  And it isn't just about money.  It's about who you are and what you do.

As I say, it's on a case by case basis, and each case is different.  And you and I have, well, some problems that we need to take care of.  A bunch of problems.  Things leaking out of our pores.  Bad choices that we make every single day.  But here's the juice:  something the Christian church has failed at, and failed badly at, is in not recognizing this as a real issue.  We know that Jesus is great, yes granted, but then after that, what is to be done?  Well, most of us have an idea about who we think is great.  It usually goes a little something like this:

Jesus

Martin Luther

C F W Walther

President of LC-C

District President

Me

Local Pastor

Other plebs.

The end.  And we, in the Christian church, very very rarely acknowledge the mites that actually get dropped off at the church, or honestly anywhere else.  You see, everyone ever has their own problems, their own bugbears that they have to deal with.  And the vast majority of people that I see have a bucket of problems that they just pretend that they don't, at least for the purposes of church.  But they do know what counts as a problem, and they are quick to point it out in others, mainly because, at least for the purposes of appearance, it sure looks like you're bringing a lot more to the table.  You've got a good German last name, you've got the Lutheran pedigree going way back, and you served on the board of Elders twice. Great.  That's the large sum you bring and drop off.  Your abundance of virtue and goodness.  And it's good stuff, don't get me wrong; it certainly looks like a lot more than anyone else brings to the table.  But that's where you and I always get into trouble.  You see, we have no idea how much anyone else is bringing to the table.  Do you know why?

Because we have no idea what anyone else has.

The only person whom you know sufficiently enough to be able to say 'he or she should try harder and be better,' is you.  Nobody else, mainly because you have no idea what is in anyone else's account.  You have no idea how many riches are stored up, if any.  The only person whom you have the slightest clue is you.  You know what your account is, both materially and spiritually, you know your abundance, and you know your weaknesses.  And sometimes, and you know this, it takes absolutely everything in you to surpass one moment of temptation.  It takes everything in you to not click a link, or to walk past the liquor store, or to not call that one girl, or to say 'no thanks, I'm good' when offered something, or to put your car keys down when you're about to drive, or to bite your tongue and say nothing when your wife or husband is leveling legitimate criticisms against you, or to go to church only once in a year.  You know what it takes.  And those are the mites.  Those are the offerings that look like nothing, but in reality are absolutely everything.  You put those on the line, and it looks like two small copper coins, worth less than a penny.  

But it's worth so much more, because it's giving everything.  

As someone's bathroom wallpaper once said, you'll never succeed until you make your weaknesses into your strengths.  The abundance that you have, it's not actually worth as much as your mites.  Your strengths are worth a whole lot less than your weaknesses, and it's on a case by case, moment by moment basis.  And the only points of comparison you have are

1 - You yesterday.

2 -  Jesus Christ, who actually did give up everything, to cover those moments of pride and arrogance, those moments of judgment, and those moments when you cling on tightly to those mites, afraid anyone should see that meager offering.  But your heavenly father, who sees what you do in secret, will reward you.  

PJ.