I have always been struck by the story of the widows mite. Here is a lady who literally had very little, and gave it all. She left herself nothing to go on. There was no money left for food, rent, or any sort of pleasurable extras. She gave all she had.

There are few stories that parallel this kind of giving in Scripture, with exception of Christ Himself.

Most of us find the need to hang on to our perception of what little we have, as we will surely need it for a day in the future, when the 'wheels come off our wagon.' After all, it is prudent to save. It is not a bad idea to have money for emergencies.

When I was in Africa this past summer, I found it unbelievable that the people we worked with who knew nothing of Jesus or His saving grace, knew more about giving than we did.

One day, we sent out our team to prayer walk the village. They were broken into teams of four or five, and they headed out. Upon their departure, the leadership gathered to take care of some detail work we had not had time to tend to.

Later, all of the teams had returned but one. The homes in this part of Africa all had accessible roofs. I went up to the roof of the home we were in to watch for our team. The home was on a ridge top, so my view was excellent.

Down the dirt path (they called it a road), in the distance, I saw the dust rising from their footsteps. There seemed to be joy in their body language. I could not wait to hear from them.

Upon their return, they proceeded to tell us a story of giving. They were walking this section of the village on the outskirts, where we had not visited before. One of them was drawn to a particular area, so they went. When they arrived, they stood for a moment or two and prayed. As they began to move on, people emerged from a home, and began to speak to them.

They did not speak English, and our team did not speak Arabic, French or any other language they knew. Communication happened through gesturing, with bits of sentences being understood from our weeks in the country.

They were being invited in for tea and lunch. Our team knew lunch was waiting for them (pb&j that we call squeezers) back at the house. They decided the right thing to do was to oblige this kind gesture. Armed with the knowledge that these peoples view of us comes from American television shows aired in their country, they rightfully set out to dispel that paradigm, and try to build relationships.

They were treated to tea and a meal, not offered in any of the local cafe's. They had an incredible time of fellowship. They smiled and laughed together.

Our team returned with their appetites relieved, and a renewed joy in their dispositions. This group of students had been extended a courtesy that is common in this Muslim nation. They were invited into a little shack of a home to join into a time of feasting, with all that these people had to eat.

As the widow gave her mite, these Berber Muslims gave from their poverty.

Our team was very moved by this gesture. In fact, we found that in general, this people group would extend friendship and courtesies to us as foreigners, that we Americans would never extend to them when they visit our country.

I had to sit an reflect on the thought that I have never started a conversation, while in the US, with someone I easily recognized as Muslim. If I wasn't willing to start a conversation, how was I ever going to invite them to my home for a meal. How could I possibly build a relationship with someone who needs Jesus, if I was not willing to give from my "apparent wealth."

Giving is an attitude of the heart. There is no expectation of receiving, from a true giver. I am not a very good giver.

I am so humbled when the lessons the Lord teaches me, come from the lost.

dad


Lauren is sharing her journey in Chapel at IWU this morning. She is doing so before the entire student body in two separate Chapel services. The start times for them are 10:10AM, and 11:20 AM. Please lift up the hearers of the Word.