Giving What You Can

Bible Reading: Mark 12:41-44

Ali wanted to put more money in the offering plate, but all she had was a few coins. As the plate made its way across the aisle, she watched her friends drop several bills in. Ali frowned. It didn’t seem fair that her parents couldn’t give her much money to put in. She wanted to do more.

The next day, Ali set up a lemonade stand to raise money for the church. She felt good about it until she added up the money at the end of the day and found she had only made a few dollars.

“I’ll never be able to give as much as my friends,” Ali mumbled.

Her dad, who was searching for jobs online, looked up. “What was that?”

“My friends give a lot more money to church than we do. Even with the lemonade stand, my money won’t make any difference compared to what they give.”

Dad shook his head. “It’s not about how much you give, Ali—it’s about where it comes from.”

Ali’s brow wrinkled. “What does that mean?”

Dad closed his laptop. “There was a widow in the Bible. She only had a few coins, but she gave them away. Jesus said she had given more than anyone else because she gave her all. That’s what you’re doing.”

“It is?” Ali asked.

Dad nodded. “You’ve worked hard to earn money at your lemonade stand today so you could give more to the church. Even though it doesn’t seem like much to you, you’re giving what you have to help our church show people the love of Jesus, and that’s what matters. God sees your heart, and He can use whatever amount you give Him for good, even if it’s just a little.”

Ali looked at her little stack of money. It wasn’t much, but it was all she had. “I think I want to do another lemonade stand next week,” she said.

Dad smiled. “I’ll be the first in line!”

Ali smiled back. She might not earn very much from her lemonade stand, but it was a way to help her church, and she wanted to do it. She wanted to give from her heart.

-Bethany Acker

How About You?

Have you ever worried that you aren’t giving enough? The Bible says God loves a cheerful giver. Do you feel cheerful about what you give? Do you give from your heart out of gratitude for all Jesus has done for you? That’s what matters. God can use any amount of money or time you give, no matter how little it is, to show people His love.

Today’s Key Verse:
2 Corinthians 9:7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (NIV)

Today’s Key Thought:

Give from the heart