Scripture
Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” John 12:7-8

“I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” Luke 21:3-4

Observation
The last week of Jesus life was book ended with two very different gifts. One was unimaginably extravagant; the other was forgettable. Both gifts were totally misunderstood by those who saw them given. But Jesus understood the gifts because he looked into the heart of the givers.

The first gift came in two copper coins. In Australia kids used to call one cent copper coins “brown money.” That suggests how worthless we think such loose change is. The lady on social security looked to be the smallest giver that day, but Jesus saw she was the greatest. While others tipped God, she signed over her whole pension check. Jesus rightly saw that her gift was the greatest because he viewed her giving not by what she gave but by what she had left. She gave the most because she gave all.

The second gift was the kind saved for when after a person had died. It was worth the total of W2 form. Again this gift was misunderstood by those who saw it. They measured the gift by the price tag, while again Jesus looked under the wrapping and saw the heart.

Application
There is a lesson here for us. What matters most to the Lord is not what is giving but the heart that gives it. Preparation of our heart is when we give is more significant to God than what we write the check out for. There needs to be a motive in giving that somehow is reflected in what we give. Jesus loves gifts with depth of meaning.

If Jesus looks for the heart of the giver, then people will always look at the gift wrapper and misjudge. Neither the brown money nor the designer perfume were understood by those who watched the gift being given. Both in their own way were sized up and criticized. When we give gifts from the heart we cannot expect others to understand them, but Jesus does and that is all that matters. Long after the criticism decrescendos, our gift will live on because it was given with heart.

Prayer
Father, I give you my gifts today out of a heart of deep love for Christ. Those gifts are not always understood, but I know they are appreciated by you. Look beyond the box and bow and see my heart that gives. Amen.