In Mk. 12:41-44 we read the account of a notable widow who gave "two mites" into the treasury. But Jesus said of her: "This poor widow cast in more than all they that are casting into the treasury: for they all did cast in of their superfluity; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living."

There is evidence that the more people make, the less they give. An organization called Giving, USA published an analysis of giving ratio to earnings. According to this organization if 1968 persons with income under $5000 gave $157 or 4.69 per cent of their adjusted gross income. Persons with incomes of $5000 to $10,000 gave $221 or 2.91 per cent of their adjusted gross income. And persons with income of $10,000 to $15,000 gave 308 or 2.54 per cent of their adjusted gross income.

It is not necessarily the one who casts in the most who gives the most. The widow gave more than all others; she gave all she had. The above cited statistics constitute a poor commentary on our gratitude as God bestows upon us ever greater material blessings.

TRUTH MAGAZINE, XV: 40, p. 4
August 19, 1971