Finding Resilience, Joy and Our Identity in Jesus Christ Lesson Five

Lesson Five: The Gift of the Woman Who Was Poor

Scripture: Mark 12:41–44 

When You Cannot Help but Give Back

Today, we explore the gift of the woman who was poor. She put her copper coins in the temple treasury one day and Jesus lifted up her generosity.

I imagine her saying, “It’s true that I don’t have much. Honestly, it’s jarring to experience the death of a spouse and go from having what you need to deciding what needs will be met.

“When I was growing up, I went to temple and gave an offering, because that’s what I learned to do. I still go to worship and give an offering when I can. I’m so grateful to God for God‘s blessings, so I give joyfully.”

“Sometimes, I only have a coin or two to contribute—I know it’s not much, but at times it’s all I have.”

“I see the way people look at me. It is not a good experience to be a poor giver, even if it is beyond my control. So many others give much more than I do. It’s hard being identified by what I do not have. But, it is pure joy to be able to give what I have for the good of the world.”

I imagine that the woman who was poor grew up going to the temple,and that she contributed to the offering because that’s what she learned to do as a woman of faith. Like many women we know in the church, she gave because giving is important, and I would like to believe that it was part of who she was and part of how she lived. Women’s giving in the church is also part of our identity in Christ. In our giving, we find joy.

It sometimes seems that the more we give, the greater the gifts to us. In other words, it is nearly impossible to give it all away because we receive so much in return. I think if someone were to ask, “How do I find joy in Christ?” my answer might be, “Give. Give of yourself. Give of your possessions. Give of your time. Be part of a faith community. Be part of something bigger than yourself.”

Do you think this woman thought she was doing anything exceptional when she put her two copper coins into the church treasury that day? Maybe not, but Jesus believed it to be extraordinary.

What if she knew that in her giving, she was not really depleting her resources but prioritizing her gratitude to God above all else? She may have been more in touch with her purpose than many of us.

I imagine that she loved God so much that she could not help but give back. We also have times when we just cannot help but give back because we are so grateful for the gifts we have received from God.

You may be confused as to why we are considering that the woman who was poor might have been a joyous giver in the midst of such terrible circumstances. It also makes no sense to many of us when we hear of people whose loved ones have been harmed and yet they choose to forgive the person responsible, find joy in life, and give thanks to God—even though they will never be the same again.

This forgiveness or a decision to be joyful, for some people, is a way to avoid being consumed by grief and anger, provide release and healing, and move forward with one’s life.

How do you find joy amid tribulation? One of the best ways to live joyfully is to focus on gratitude and be thankful for what God has done for you.

Benedictine Brother David Steindl-Rast said, “It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.[1]

We do not know how this woman felt when she contributed to the treasury. That’s not in the passage. But, what is amazing to me is that thousands of years later, we still remember her. By her witness, we know that it is possible to give of ourselves to others, even during difficult times, and live in faith, hope—and yes, joy

[1] David Steindl-Rast, Gratefulness, the Heart of Prayer: An Approach to Life in Fullness (New York: Paulist Press, 1984 First Edition), 204. (Also see David Steindl-Rast, “Want to be happy? Be grateful,” TEDGlobal, posted on June 2013, TED Talk, 14:16, go.ted.com/6Wup).

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This blog is the fifth in a series of nine blogs.

Finding Resilience, Joy, and Our Identity in Jesus Christ is the Presbyterian Women in the PC(USA), Inc. Bible study for 2025–2026. Go to presbyterianwomen.org/bible-study/resilience to find more resources and copies for you and your group to study along with us. Call 800/533-4371 or order online.