Theme: It isn't the size of the gift that matters.
Scripture: Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, 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." Mark 12:43-44 (NIV)
Scripture: Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, 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." Mark 12:43-44 (NIV)
Today I want to tell you the story of a little girl named Hattie and how her gift of fifty-seven cents helped to build a great church.
One Sunday morning, the pastor of a church went outside to find a group of children who were unable to get in to go to Sunday School because the building was too crowded. One of those children was a six year-old named Hattie. When the pastor saw her, he lifted her up in his arms, put her up on his shoulder, and carried her into the church where he found a place for her to sit in the Sunday School class.
The next morning as he walked to church, the pastor saw Hattie again and stopped to talk to her. He told her that he hoped that some day the church would be able to build a building that was large enough so that there would be room for all the children who wanted to attend.
Two years later, little Hattie died and the pastor was asked to preach the funeral service. After the service, Hattie's mother handed the pastor a small purse containing fifty-seven cents. She told him that Hattie had been saving her pennies to help the church build a new Sunday School building. The pastor took the fifty-seven cents back to his church and told the people about the little girl who had been saving her pennies to help them build a new Sunday School building. The people were so inspired by Hattie's gift, that they gave faithfully until they built a wonderful new building with plenty of room for all of the children who wanted to attend.
Each Sunday in our worship service we take an offering. Do you think Jesus is interested in how much money we put in the offering plate? You see, Jesus is more interested in what is in the heart of the giver than he is in the size of their gift. I am sure that Jesus would say that Hattie gave more than anyone to build this great church. She gave all that she had. Everything we have is a gift from God. And we should give back to God always with a cheerful heart.
Note: The story of Hattie Wiatt is a true story. It is taken from on a sermon by Russell H. Conwell delivered December 1, 1912.
Activity For The Day - The Widow's Mite
Source : sermons4kids
