How to catch God's attention

In Mark 12: 41-44 Jesus shares the story of the widow who gave her all to the Lord. This story highlights what catches Jesus attention in a positive way.

As Jesus observed different offerings from the rich to the poor, there were certain aspects of the widows offering that Jesus commends. We must remember that God observes everything we do; nothing goes unnoticed to Him. He is both omniscient and omnipresent.

So firstly, Jesus comments on proportional giving. Jesus is teaching us that how much we give is related to how much we have.

Earlier, Jesus had taught his disciples, "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked" (Luke 12:48). Paul reiterates this principle to the Corinthian church: "On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income..." (1 Corinthians 16:2

Secondly, He commends sacrificial giving. Jesus doesn't tell the woman to keep her money, that God doesn't really need it. He lets her give and his heart swells with pride for this lady. If He stops her, he deprives her of the blessing of giving to God. But know that when you make sacrifices for God, He is watching. It doesn't matter if no one else sees or knows. It is better that they do not. But you may count on the fact that God sees and knows your giving. Jesus promises, "Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you" (Matthew 6:4).

Thirdly, It shows he dependence on God. She gave all she had to “Live on” the greek word "bios" – resources needed to maintain life. It showed her faith and dependency on God. This was not presumption her attitude was sacrificial. She put God first. In sacrificial giving it may be our time, energy or resources.

Lastly it shows that we should not despise what you have to give. We should not despise our small gifts to God. Sometimes we fall under the worldly spell that "bigger must be better." That's not true of our giving to God. We are to give what we are able, whether small or great. If you've ever been poor, then you know that it is easy to feel, "My small gift won't make any difference. It won't matter." But that's not true. It does matter. It matters to your Heavenly Father who loves you.

Of course this is not only limited to our finances but to witnessing, praying, friendships, church involvement, attendance, testimony, prophecies and prayer. In fact, all of our life should reflect this woman's attitude and actions. Then we will attract Jesus' attention in a right way. As Jesus said of this woman "what she did was greater than all the others".