Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.

‭‭Mark‬ ‭12‬:‭43‬-‭44‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We’ve grown to be cynical about church offerings. And for all too many good reasons. 

Jesus’ lesson here paid no attention to the actual collection but to heart and faith conditions of the giver. 

God needs none of our money. 

He transacts in currencies far more important and eternal. 

God smiles upon our sacrifices as judgments of our hearts, minds, and faith. 

It’s one thing to be a man of means who follows the 10% rule faithfully. It’s another to give out of a love and faith that God provides for our needs regardless of our gifts. 

Jesus adores that which drives our behaviors because only there and then are we dealing in the only currencies redeemable in heaven, love and faith. 

Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.
‭‭Luke‬ ‭12‬:‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Less is more.

If not for the sake of humility, then for fewer distractions from the stuff of life that really matters.

You can’t take it with you and it will be left far behind sooner than later.

For a rich life, invest in assets which, by definition, are transcendent from this life to the next.

There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.

What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.
‭‭Luke‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬-‭3‬

A clear conscience is an underrated pursuit savored by many but possessed by few.

So many people are spending their days running from their own lies, indiscretions and inconsistencies they are failing to live.

Fatigued at keeping up appearances and denying the fact they are sinners just like the rest of us, their chase of perfection never produces it.

Getting off the hamster wheel is a choice.

It’s one that requires surrender to the truth from which you’re desperately trying to escape.

It’s the only jump that produces true and eternal freedom and lands you in the arms of Jesus and a love and calm acceptance.

But it’s a decision.

A furious chase of the impossible or resting abandonment into care from the God who has been seeking you all along?

Choose life.

Clear your defensive conscience and accept the fact you are a sinner in desperate need of a forgiver and a permanent exit off the hamster wheel.

Join the rest of us who have chosen life by choosing Jesus.

Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 

Following Jesus is no bowl of cherries. 

It’s a hard life of sacrifices and burdens. 

I’ve often wondered if when the rubber really meets the road and my loyalty is tested under pressure, will I have made of myself the stuff that will endure? What will be my breaking point if at all?

If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.

‭‭Mark‬ ‭8‬:‭34‬-‭38‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Again, following Jesus is no bowl of cherries. 

To risk use of yet another cliche, I believe we ain’t seen nothing yet. 

We so easily fall into the trap of not taking our position as followers serious enough. 

To be honest, the risk is not in the believing but in the behaving. Faith with works that demonstrate it without shame or the risk of embarrassment. 

The disciples endured beheadings, torture, and worse without wavering faith. 

Whoever loses their life for Jesus and the gospel will save it. 

When the day comes, what will it take to have what it takes?

The most unfortunate truth is that the older you get, the narrower your search for purpose becomes.

Age adds critical experiences that begin to make deeply personal differences much later than they ought.

As years pass, my faith becomes more central to my being.

The pursuit of it as the defining meaning of life is much more obvious and clearer beyond what had been present in my merely curious early years.

Urgency to let others know that time is short and decisions made now will determine destinations later drives us old men to instruct young men from experience, love and camaraderie to make changes in themselves and in the world while they still can,
narrowing their own search for purpose and meaning.

They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’ You have let go of the commands of God and hold on to human traditions.

‭‭Mark‬ ‭7‬:‭7‬-‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The most radical change is from the inside out.

Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me and understand this. Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.

‭‭Mark‬ ‭7‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In a world focused on appearances, rituals, and external conformity, Jesus redirects the spotlight inward, teaching that what truly corrupts a person is not what they eat, wear, or touch, but the things that emerge from within: our words, intentions, attitudes, and actions.

It’s a call to integrity—not just moral behavior, but alignment of our heart and spirit with the way of love, humility, and truth. 

It’s not the world entering us that defiles—it’s the bitterness, pride, deceit, or hatred we allow to grow and flow outward.

This is the freedom Jesus offers: a life radically transformed from the inside out. 

Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied,

‭‭Mark‬ ‭6‬:‭41‬-‭42‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Since when did giving thanks to God for providing our meals go out of style?

We’ve all witnessed an adjacent table in the restaurant bow heads in prayer before eating. 

Some families still practice this around the kitchen table. 

Though not usually such a dramatic exercise as providing a dinner party for 5,000 from an essentially empty fridge, God steps up at every meal to remind us that it is he who sustains us. 

What dinner guest doesn’t thank his host for the invitation and the good gifts that come with it?

Prayer that precedes acceptance of any meal either in private or in public is a humble, reflexive, and unashamed acknowledgment of the generosity of the giver. 

Whether procured from the local Kroger’s or the loving handiwork of your host, at the end of the day it’s ultimately God who sustains our needs. 

So get back in the habit. Give pause to reflect as a very small demonstration of your faith and thanks. 

It may be a tiny but significant witness to a world around you groomed to take blessings for granted. 

Ephesians 5:20