All to Jesus I surrender
All to Him I freely give
I will ever love and trust Him
In His presence daily live

I surrender all
I surrender all
All to Thee
My blessed Savior
I surrender all

This old hymn is playing in the background of my mind as I read this passage that grips my heart every time I read it and meditate on what Jesus is teaching his followers. While on earth Jesus, who refers to Himself Son of Man, is keenly aware of all that is going on around Him.  As the Son of God, Jesus uses everything he observes as a “teachable moment” for his disciples—that’s what a great Teacher does—uses every moment in every day life to help us learn to be more like our Master Teacher who is our Savior and Lord.

I surrender all to His teaching this morning by fixing my full attention on Him.

Mark 12, The Message

^35-37 While he was teaching in the Temple, Jesus asked, “How is it that the religion scholars say that the Messiah is David’s ‘son,’ when we all know that David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, said,

God said to my Master,
    “Sit here at my right hand
    until I put your enemies under your feet.”

“David here designates the Messiah ‘my Master’—so how can the Messiah also be his ‘son’?”

The large crowd was delighted with what they heard.

^38-40 He continued teaching. “Watch out for the religion scholars. They love to walk around in academic gowns, preening in the radiance of public flattery, basking in prominent positions, sitting at the head table at every church function. And all the time they are exploiting the weak and helpless. The longer their prayers, the worse they get. But they’ll pay for it in the end.”

^41-44 Sitting across from the offering box, he was observing how the crowd tossed money in for the collection. Many of the rich were making large contributions. One poor widow came up and put in two small coins—a measly two cents. Jesus called his disciples over and said, “The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

We spoke of 1 Corinthians 13 yesterday as a way to describe the love of God.  I am reminded just now of the words that begin that description—that is not of God, “If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” (1 Corinthians 13:1)

Imagine the high and mighty, or as we would say it today, the “rich and famous” pulling their robes back to reveal a huge pouch full of coins.  Everyone watches and hears as they untie the bag and loudly spill the coins slowly so that each piece of precious metal is heard as a “clanging symbol” of their wealth and faux piousness.  They have lots to give and they want everyone to know it.  They come to the big brass offering container and throw in their contribution as loudly as they can.  Everyone sees and hears their contribution fall into the vessel.

Isn’t that the similar to some sport stars who make an insanely amount of money who are prompted to give a portion of their wealth to the needy mainly for the great publicity it is for them?  But we can be that way, too.  Many of us are tempted to be “clanging symbols” in our behaviors of giving.  We love the attention it gives us.  What’s worse is when attach “strings” to our giving to the church.  But that is for another time…

Let’s dive deeper in to this passage.  Jesus not only watched but observed how each giver gave their offering.  To watch is look over and see what is happening.  To observe is to notice or perceive (something) and register it as being significant.  Jesus notices the woman who “gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all.”  Jesus, Son of God, knows the heart of the giver.

When we give, what is in our hearts?  This is what Jesus “observes” in us as we daily give ourselves to Him.  Are we clanging symbols who say we love Him but turn our backs on loving others?  Are we loud in giving but quite in telling His Truth?  Do we give ceremoniously or humbly and quietly—without any fanfare?

All to Jesus I surrender
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine
Let me feel Thy Holy Spirit
Truly knowing that Thou art mine

I surrender all
I surrender all
All to Thee
My blessed Savior
I surrender all

It seems the questions for us to respond to today is; How and why do I give?  What is the condition of my heart when I give?  God knows our hearts and still observes whose hearts are His.  2 Chronicles 16:9 says; “The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”  God knows and observes our hearts.

Want some advice that is “newer”?  “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”  2 Corinthians 9:6-8

How we give seems to be more important to God.  Are we “clanging symbol” givers or grateful, quiet givers who give all we have and all we are to the One who loves us most?

Paul gives us great advice in Romans 12 about what and how to give;

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” Romans 12:1-2, MSG

It’s not about the coins.  It’s about our hearts, minds, and souls.

Lord,

I offer my life to you.  All of it.  Use me a vessel of your love that permeates my being so the love is my habit without thinking about how it benefits me.  It’s not about me.  It’s all about You. 

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen.

All to Jesus I surrender
Now I feel the sacred flame
Oh the joy of full salvation
Glory, glory to his name

I surrender all
Oh, I surrender all
All to Thee
My blessed Savior
I surrender all…