I pictured the scene going down, with Jesus just sitting with his disciples near the temple just hanging out and people watching. It is the day the Jews are bringing their monetary offerings to the temple, so there is a little more hub-bub than usual. As they sit the disciples watch the "many rich people (throwing) in large amounts" of money into the temple treasury (Mark 12:41), and as they do I imagine them thinking "I wish I was rich enough to be able to do that...gosh, I couldn't even give that much when I was a fisherman...God can't really be please with what I am giving him...what am I doing with my life...who is this Jesus anyways?...maybe I should just stop with this whole disciple thing and go try and get rich somehow...then I could give the temple a bunch of money...maybe then I will be worth something?"
Amongst the nosiness of temple and the rich people making a spectacle of their giving (Matt 6:2), an old widow sneaks up and drops in two small coins, a drop in the bucket compared to what the others were giving. Mark 12:41 goes as far to say, she gave "a fraction of a penny". Jesus then draws his disciples close and says "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. The 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).
The issue is not about how much money you give, in comparison to how much money you have. Might I go as far as to say this story is not even about money. It is about your life. Jesus is not after money or sacrifices, He is after your heart and soul, your very essence. In Proverbs 21:3 it says "To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice." What was admirable about the widow is not that she 100% of her income, but that she gave of her control of her life. She gave up her security and the only chance she had of getting food for the next day or week or month.
Throughout the entire bible there is a constant theme of God asking people to lay down everything for him. Look at Abram and God calling him to "Leave your country, your parents and your father's household and go to the land I will show you" (Genesis 12:1). Jesus told a young ambitious man who came to him for advice that "If you want to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me." (Matt 19:21). God is looking for people who are will to lay down everything for him. God is not looking for more people to follow the rules, read the bible, attend church, and pray daily. He is looking for people who are willing to give up their comforts and empty themselves to be filled with God and His glory.
I hope this is both encouraging and challenging: encouraging because you do not have to be rich or talented or really have anything good to give God for him to be pleased with your offering. The challenge is that you have to be open give up everything for God. He may not be asking you to sell all your possessions and live in a straw hut in Paupa New Guinea, but He may be asking you to give up that $5 cup of coffee, or give up that car, or give up that television, or give up that new sweater, or give up that promotion, or give up that group of friends, or give up gossiping, or give up a number of other things that are so natural and comfortable in this culture.
Following Jesus is so sweet and simple, but it costs everything.