Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 9
He claims “God measures the gift by what is left,” using the widow who gave “all her living”; how does that standard confront modern giving strategies (“earn more so we can give more”), and what would it mean for your giving to be evaluated by remaining cushion rather than donated amount?
Another way to ask: If God looks at giving by what you have left (like the widow who gave everything), how does that challenge the idea of “earn more so we can give more”? What would change if your giving was judged by your leftover safety net instead of the dollar amount you gave?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
The speaker’s standard confronts giving strategies that keep personal security untouched while giving from surplus. He argues God evaluates sacrifice by what remains—so faithful giving may reduce one’s cushion and require real dependence on God rather than a plan to give later from increased wealth.
- He says, “God measures the gift by what is left.”
- He challenges the common idea: “We have this idea we’re going to invest and we’re going to make all this money. Just think how much more we can give. God never says that.”
- He cites the widow: “She gave all her living. She doesn’t even know what she’s going to have to eat tomorrow. And she gave more than all the rest.”
- His broader commitment aligns: “give away my resources… trust God to meet my needs… think only about today.”
- He ties this to final judgment themes (fed hungry, clothed naked vs. accumulated for self), showing the stakes of how we handle the “cushion.”