Teaching Time

In the Bible story, Jesus watched as the rich people gave their large offerings in the Temple.

Jesus also saw the poor widow who brought her tiny offering to the Temple. She only had two small coins, worth less than one penny.

The disciples must have thought Jesus would be very happy with the offering the rich people gave. But when Jesus talked to them, which person did He praise? The poor widow.

Even though the poor widow gave so little, Jesus knew she gave the most generous of all the offerings given that day. Why? Because Jesus sees what the disciples and you and I can’t see. Jesus does not only see the outside of a person, He sees inside too! (Luke 16:15;1 Samuel 16:7).

A person’s heart is what is most important to God, not the outside that people can see.

Hold up the water bottle and the large cup.

Let’s pretend this water bottle is full of good things God gives to us, and let’s say this cup is a person.

Open the water bottle and hold the cup over the bowl. Pour water into the cup until it is full

Wow, God gave generously to this person!

Let’s see how generously this person gives.

Tip the cup enough to pour a very small amount into the bowl.

Place the towel under the cup and show the children how much water remains in the cup.

There is still a lot left in the cup, isn’t there?

Put the cup down and pick up the paper towel tube.

Now, pretend this funnel is a different person.

Hold the funnel over the bowl, then pour a little water from the bottle through the funnel into the bowl.

Do it two more times.

Look in the funnel and then show the inside of it to the children.

I don’t see any water left in the funnel do you? No!

Do you think how the poor widow gave was more like the funnel or the cup? The funnel!

Yes! Everything that went into it, came back out. Everything God gave to her, she gave back to God!

How were the rich people more like the cup? They were given a lot but gave back a little. They kept a lot more for themselves.

Yes, the rich people gave large offerings, but kept much more. The widow gave a tiny amount, but it was all she had. Jesus could see her generous and happy heart that loved to give!

The widow loved and trusted God with all her heart. She knew everything she had to give came from God. She trusted that He would keep giving her everything she needed.

Today’s Bible verse says: “Everything we have has come from You, and we give You only what You first gave us!”

It pleases God when we have a happy heart to give what He generously gives to us!