By: Rev. David Grousnick

It has been a long political season. I don’t know about you, but it has been stressful and exhausting. So, how about some good, old-fashioned church humor?

A businessman who needed millions of dollars to clinch an important deal went to the temple to pray for the money. By chance he sat next to a man who was praying for $100 to pay an urgent debt.

The businessman took out his wallet and pressed $100 into the other man’s hand. Overjoyed, the man got up and left the temple. The businessman then closed his eyes and prayed: “And now, Lord, that I have your undivided attention . . .”

There was a man who called at the church and asked if he could speak to the Head Hog at the trough. The secretary said, “Who?”

Then she gathered herself and said “Sir, if you mean our pastor you will have to treat him with a little more respect than that and ask for the ‘Reverend’ or ‘The Pastor.’ But certainly, you cannot refer to him as the Head Hog at the Trough.”

The man said, “I understand. I was calling because I have $10,000 I was thinking about donating to the building fund.” She said, “Hold on for just a moment – I think the big pig just walked in the door.”

Now I am sure the secretary wouldn’t treat me like that, some of the laity perhaps but not the secretary! But we all are subject to changing our tune when money is suddenly involved. That is why Mark 12:38-44, the story of the Widows Mite, has painted an enduring Biblical image throughout the ages.

We tend to play favorites. We treat those who give more as if they are the pillars on which the church is erected.

But consider with me another image. Jesus, sitting opposite the place where the offerings were put, is observing the people make their donations as they come into the temple. He is not alone. Seated with him are the leaders-the Sadducees. It is startling to think of Jesus sitting with those whom he had scorned for their hypocrisy.

Remember that as they watch there is no paper money so, all the offerings make noise as they roll down this long horn shaped object and fall into the pool of coins. And here comes this little old lady and she has two small coins worth nothing and drops them in. They barely make a noise.

You can almost see the Temple leaders as they roll their eyes and hope for better results with the next person who walks in the door. Jesus then calls his Disciples over and says, “This poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.”

To the Sadducees this woman is a waste of time but to Jesus she is the stuff by which Kingdoms are erected. Thus, at its heart, the story of the widow’s mite is a strong reminder to the kingdoms of this world. And to each of us!

A priest once asked one of his parishioners to serve as financial chairman of his parish. The man, manager of a grain elevator, agreed on two conditions: no report would be due for a year, and no one would ask any questions during the year. At the end of the year, he made his report.

He had paid off the church debt of $200,000. He had redecorated the church. He had sent money to missions. He had $5,000 in the bank. Needless to say, everyone wanted to know how.

The man quietly explained, “You people bring your grain to my elevator. As you did business with me, I simply withheld 10 percent and gave it to the church. You never missed it.”

A Junior Sunday School teacher asked her children if they would give $1,000,000 to the missionaries. “YES!” they all screamed!!

“Would you give $1,000?” Again, they shouted, “YES!”

“How about $100?” “Oh, YES we would!” they all agreed!!

“Would you give just a dollar to the missionaries?” she asked. The boys exclaimed “YES!” just as before except for Johnny. “Johnny,” the teacher said as she noticed the boy clutching his pocket, “why didn’t you say ‘YES’ this time?” “Well,” he stammered, “I HAVE a dollar.”

Abraham Lincoln, was once hired by a man to sue someone else because they owed him $2.50. Not a large amount today, but in the l860’s it was. Lincoln didn’t want to take the case, but his client insisted. So, Abe asked for a $l0.00 retainer fee up front. His client handed him the $l0.

Lincoln then gave the man who owed $2.50 half of the ten. The man promptly paid his debt, and everyone went home happy.

It’s not what you give, it is HOW you give. God wants us to give of ourselves joyfully without expecting anything in return.

Whatever this election week brings, my prayer is that we put a smile of our faces and let the Lord fill our hearts with joy because come what may, we know Him as our Lord and Savior!

David Grousnick, is the Pastor at the First Christian Church in Artesia.