Pillars in the House of God (pt.6)

Have you noticed all the examples I've drawn from Scripture for this series have been women?  I hope it goes without saying that without strong, godly male leaders (pillars) in our church it wouldn't be a church at all.  But for our purposes here, I've chosen to set before you a few women who through their love and devotion to Christ and the church, became pillars and examples to follow.

Today's woman doesn't have a name.  There are only three verses written about her but those three verses express a commendation from Jesus.  We know she was a widow, and we know she was poor.  We also know she had a vision for the kingdom of God. This woman, found in Luke 2:2-5, "happens" to be in line at the temple when Jesus was there.  She had come to give her offering.  And Jesus noticed.

She might have felt a bit conspicuous there with all the rich bringing their large offerings.  It was probably obvious to all that this woman was poor.  But this did not keep her away.  She had a fixed determination to invest in the kingdom of God.  Sounds familiar to Tim's words yesterday: "telling the coming generation is more than a slogan or a nice idea; it is a chosen and deliberate course of action."

This woman had a purpose and a vision.  She was going to give everything she had to the temple.  And what is interesting is, Jesus let her.  Jesus commended her.  He didn't put up a fuss insisting she take care of her basic needs first.  He must have been smiling inside and out. 

He knew of course that her basic needs would be taken care of.  He knew His Father in heaven would care for her in a more intimate way than the sparrows are cared for.  He knew this woman had an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading (1 Peter 1:4).  He loved that this woman was willing to trust her heavenly Father for her daily bread.  

Church pillars are people, men and women, who have this kind of devotion to God.  Church pillars are those people who have "stood at the foot of the cross, and watched the tremendous payment of our redemption with the precious blood of Christ - ... [the ones who] if they had seen that awful price [poured] out, drop by drop, from His own dear patient brow and torn hands and feet, till it was ALL paid, and the central word of eternity was uttered, 'It is finished'... [They are the ones who are] ready to say, 'Not a mite will I withhold'" (Francis Havergal).  

As Christian women, we have been given by God a huge capacity to give.  I have been blessed in recent days to hear reports of women responding to the many needs around them.  In many ways the women in our church have a standard of living that is far below those of their neighbors because of their generous love for Jesus, the church, and the coming generations.  

None of us has given "all that we have to live on" but are we willing to trust God for our daily bread?  Are we willing to give ourselves into real poverty out of a love for Jesus?  Just because He gave His all for us?  

Something for me to think about.  Or should I say,  something for me to "chose a deliberate course of action."