What's in Your Schedule?

Mark 12
v.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.
v.42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
v.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.
v.44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on.”

We all have the same balance in our account. Every day, another 24 hours is deposited, with no roll-over minutes. By the end of the day, they have all been spent, in some combination of rest and activity. Some of us have time weighing heavy on our hands, wondering what to do with it all, and others of us have little enough to go around for all the hands outstretched, demanding, asking, hoping for a few minutes of our time.

Doing good is always important. Obeying God is vital. If it is easy to find the time to do it, that's fine, for it shows the heart of God, the nature of Jesus. If it is more difficult, the sacrifice is more pleasing to God, for it helps shape our character, purifying it, clearing the way for others to more easily see God in our life.

When time each day seems to be stretching thin and minutes as hard to find as dollars when a need comes up, we are often tempted to cut others off and shut down the supply so we will have a few minutes left to ourselves at the end of the day. This can become our point of testing to see if we will recognize that God is the source of all we have, and it is He Who will give from His abundance to meet our needs, and the needs of others. When we reach the end of what we have, we can depend on the Lord, Who inhabits eternity, to fill in what we lack, making time where there seems to be no time.

Psalm 90:12 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Job 14:5 If determined are his days, The number of his months are with Thee, His limit Thou hast made, And he passeth not over;

When you have had a long day at the end of a long week, and you are worn out, tired, at the end of your energy, and working to finish the last of what you have to do so you can sit down to rest for just a moment and gather enough strength to make it to bed, that may be when you hear from someone who has a need. It may be for prayer, it may be for talking, it may be for listening. You may need to go out and meet them, they may need to come over. When God sends a need across your path that He wants you to meet, and you are down to your last two mites of energy, will you give out of your need, or wait until you can give out of your surplus?

Father of grace, Lord of eternity, help us to yield ourselves to Your Spirit which is moving in our hearts and through our lives. Grant us the eyes of Your Spirit to see how much You value the giving of our last few resources, for that leaves us dependent on You rather than our own strength and surplus. Even as Your Son, Jesus, gave all of Himself for others, not only on the cross, but throughout His ministry, when hungry and tired, He still had compassion and fed those who came to Him spiritual truths and physical food, ministering when even the disciples wanted the crowds sent away, so let that same Spirit abide in, and move through, us to do Your will and give You glory and grow Your kingdom. This is our hearts' desire, Lord! Be our all in all!