Today’s Verse

Luke 21:3-4

Truly I tell you, he said, “This poor widow 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.” (NIV)

Let’s be real for a moment—talking about money can sometimes feel uncomfortable. At times, I’ve felt that I wasn’t giving enough, or that I could do more. But if I’m honest with myself, I realize that my struggle with generosity comes down to holding tightly to the resources God has given me, rather than the One who provided them. Sometimes it’s fear, sometimes it’s misplaced values. In either case, this is a sign I need to loosen my grip and trust that God will provide for me as I invest in His work.

Jesus spoke a lot about money, not because He wanted to take something from us, but because He knew how tightly we cling to it. He taught us about treasure, giving with an honest heart, and the importance of living free from the grip of greed. He wants us to experience the freedom that comes when we let go of our attachment to material things and focus instead on Kingdom work.

In Mark 12:41-44, Jesus commends the widow who gave all she had—everything she lived on. It’s a radical act of faith, a kind of trust I can’t always grasp, but I sure hope to. This takes a heart that understands that everything we have is a gift from God. He asks us to hold loosely, willing to give when He asks us to.

Every year, we invite our church family to participate in the Unleashed offering. This year is an opportunity to invest in the next generation and in the Kingdom work we’re doing together as a church. This offering will support life-changing trips for students, our new After School program at the Lexington campus, and our world-class children’s ministry. We ask that everyone who calls this church home consider giving $200 towards these efforts. We want to challenge our members to give generously, but please hear this: Unleashed is not a requirement or a checklist. We want you to give what God leads you to give. Every gift matters. This is about responding with the heart of generosity, not about meeting a specific amount. Some of us may be able to give more, and some less, but each gift—big or small—will make a lasting impact in Kentucky and around the world.

As I said in the Monday's devotion, our church isn’t perfect because the people in it aren’t perfect—but that’s okay (it’s why we need Jesus!). What if we all simply said, “How can I help?” What if we each took a step of faith, trusting that God would use our imperfect contributions to build His Kingdom? When we offer our time, gifts, and resources to God—however imperfectly—we are doing exactly what He asks of us. And I believe that when we do, we’ll hear the Father say, “Well done.”

REFLECTION

Generosity is not about perfection, but about trusting God with what we have. Consider how you might step out in faith and contribute to what God is doing in and through Southland. Your generosity is an act of worship to our Creator.