 Fifty-Seven Cents
There is an old but true story of six-year old Hattie Wiatt. One day, she was standing outside their old Sunday school building because there were so many kids inside that there was no more room left for her. The pastor, noticing her dilemma, scooped her up onto his shoulders and found her a place inside. The next day, he found her again outside the building and he commented that one day, he hoped to build a new and bigger church building so that there would be enough room for any child who wanted to attend Sunday school. Hattie died two years later. The pastor was asked to preach at her funeral. Hattie’s mother gave him a small purse with only fifty-seven cents. The mother said that Hattie had been saving all her pennies to help build the new building. The pastor shared this news with his congregation. They were so inspired that they gave faithfully until they built the new church building. It’s safe to say however, that Hattie gave more than anyone else.
Jesus called his disciples and pointed how the poor widow gave more than anyone else. Two cents seemed as nothing when compared to the large sums that the rich were giving. When she gave from her poverty, Jesus recognized her yearning, her hope for and relationship with God whereas the others, with full plates did not seem to need anything more from God. God was more important to her and although she gave her whole livelihood, she may have given it gladly!
We may seem uncomfortable with this story because how many of us ever think twice about how much we give in our collection baskets? Do our contributions reflect how much we care about our church, or of what we owe God for the goodness God has showered upon us, or a reflection of our relationship with God? Are we willing to pay a higher price for something that means of great value to us? Although Jesus does not condemn the rich, he upholds the widow because of the higher value she put upon her faith and relationship in God. God does not notice the amount but its importance to us.
What is important for us? Society places success through hard work as a high standard. It is much easier to evaluate what we do instead of who we are. After almost 20 years in religious life, I’ve recognized that as important as successes may be, they are hollow if I don’t find fulfillment in them. Burn out and crises are real and dangerous possibilities. I have found that faith, love, and our relationship with God and with one another - are what must fuel our giving and our contributing, whether monetarily or through ministry. Without this relationship, our giving is nothing more than a drop in the basket. To contribute means more than just giving but to support and build up!
Hattie’s contribution, a meager fifty-seven cents but her whole life’s savings, inspired her congregation to contribute faithfully so as to build their much-needed building. It’s not the amount but the importance – the high price one is willing to pay for what one values most. The story of Hattie Wiatt is a true story. It is taken from on a sermon by Russell H. Conwell delivered December 1, 1912
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