The Widow's Mite: A Lesson on Giving What You Have for Kids

Scripture

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, 'Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything — all she had to live on.'

Teaching Point

It's Not About the Amount — It's About What It Cost You

Imagine you and your friend both decide to give something to help a family who just lost their home in a fire. Your friend reaches into a big jar of money on their desk and pulls out twenty dollars without even counting it. You have exactly three dollars saved up from your birthday, and you give all three. Who gave more? Most people would say your friend gave more — twenty dollars is more than three dollars. But Jesus would say something different. In today's story, Jesus is sitting near the offering box at the temple — kind of like a church donation box — and he's watching. Rich people are walking up and putting in big bags of coins. Clank, clank, clank. Everyone can hear it and see it. Then a widow — a woman whose husband had died, which in that time usually meant she had very little money and no one to help her — walks up quietly and drops in two tiny copper coins. They were worth almost nothing. Maybe a penny or two in today's money. And Jesus turns to his disciples and says something that probably surprised them: she gave more than everyone else. How? Because the rich people gave what they had extra. They still had plenty left over. But she gave everything. It was all she had to live on that day. Here's what that means for us: - God doesn't grade our giving on the dollar amount. He looks at the heart behind it. - Generous giving sometimes feels a little risky or a little costly. That's actually part of what makes it generous. - You are never too young, too small, or too broke to give in a way that matters to God. Maybe your 'two coins' isn't money at all. Maybe it's the last cookie in the bag you share with your little sister. Maybe it's giving up your Saturday morning to help someone. Maybe it's using your whole allowance to buy canned food for a food drive. Whatever it is — when you give it from a generous heart, Jesus notices. Just like he noticed the widow.

Discussion Questions

1. 1.In the story, the rich people gave a lot of money. Why do you think Jesus said the widow gave MORE than they did?
2. 2.Have you ever given something away that was hard to give up — like a toy, some money, or even your time? How did it feel?
3. 3.Why do you think Jesus sat down and watched how people were giving? What does that tell us about him?

Activity

Reflection

Take It With You

1. 1.This week, what is one thing — big or small — you could give to someone who needs it?
2. 2.The widow gave 'everything she had to live on.' That's a big deal. Is there anything in your life that feels hard to share or give away? Why?
3. 3.How does it change the way you think about giving, knowing that Jesus is paying attention to the heart behind the gift and not just the amount?

Closing