Change

”Change”

Luke 1:1-4

            The Canadian Mint has stopped producing the maple leaf one cent piece for use in Canada. As a result of this many people have been collecting their pennies and keeping them in jars for special purposes as a fundraiser for different groups. The penny still maintains its 1c value but it not being accepted by retailers or given in change. Many businesses have adopted a rounding policy of up or down depending upon if the sale comes to one or two cents above or three or more cents below a rounded number. In some situations the store keeps the extra change and other times it is the buyer. Eventually the cost of items will not show pennies at all. This is a big change for us all and for many it is more than just pennies going to jars and bottles, it is a sign of an economic shift which does not value the least coin or even its cost.

            Jesus observed the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.  A poor widow put in two very small copper coins. Jesus said that it was this poor widow who 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.  When the woman put the coins into the treasury she had sacrificed from what she had to give to the temple and its mission. It was a few coins, coins which would be equivalent in value to our pennies. But Jesus noted that she had really given much more than its face value.

            The change that we have in our pockets and purses is a lot different than the change we seek in our lives but sometimes we only give a portion and hope to gain a lot. Sometimes the change we desire is limited by our efforts and commitment but unlike the widow, she gave of what she hoped would be a change in her life as she supported her temple.

            What are we seeking when we say we need to change? Is it because we need to be forgiven and taught to live in a changed manner with our focus being renewed in Jesus? Or are we just wanting a little change to appease those who know that in order to really change, we have to start somewhere?

            The least coin has many properties and one is that it still has value. Sometimes we forget the values we do have and want to change these for the sake of something newer and fresher. But what do you value? What should be changed? What should be kept the same?

            As the widow deposited her coins in the treasury, she had given of herself out of her poverty and hoped for change as she entered the temple. How often do we give of ourselves in the hope of becoming different through God’s Spirit? Or do we really seek to be changed by God?

PRAYER

Holy God as we offer to you our lives we pray that you will change us to be and become the people, faithful followers, you desire us to be. Watch over us as we seek to be changed by you. Bless us we pray as we continue to build our lives and have hope in you for this world. Amen.

BLOG QUESTION:

The widow gave only a few coins out of her poverty. Sometimes we minimize such gifts as only nice and kind, but if we really knew people’s situations we would take notice just like Jesus did of this woman. Do you see changes in people because of money coming into or being lost from their lives? What does this mean for us today as we seek to bring ‘change’ into one’s life through God’s love?