Surplus – An Excess of Receipts Over Disbursements

Father, may we all be grateful when we are able to help those we love. May every single one of us never take those kinds of things for granted. We have been blessed beyond measure and are privileged to give back the blessing.

Mark 12:41-44 (<<click to read the passage)

Lord, as I read through this passage and then look back at my opening prayer, they, at least on one level, go hand in hand.

We have been blessed beyond measure… In verse 44 You refer to it as a “surplus”. One of the definitions found on merriam-webster.com is “an excess of receipts over disbursements”. How perfect is that?! Now that is where our problem lies!

In the blessing department, we have “an excess of receipts”. If we were to take time right now and list our many blessings, our list would be superfluous, that is “exceeding what is sufficient…” (according to its definition).

We are blessed. But, being totally honest, how much do we give back?

In the story of the “Widow’s Mite”, from today’s passage, Jesus, You spoke of most contributors to the temple treasury giving “a tiny part of their surplus”. How many of us are guilty of having “an excess of receipts” but are disproportionately deficient in our “disbursements”.

It seems that many who have little are the most generous. Those who have a lot are much more guarded in how much they give away. In videos posted on social media, time and time again I see examples of needy people who gladly, unselfishly, give away what little they receive so that others may have as well.

Lord Jesus, help us. May those of us who have an “an excess of receipts” when it comes to blessings, seek ways of giving it away. And of course, it is by no means limited to monetary or material blessings. It could be gifts of time or attention. It could be passing along skills so that others might benefit from our knowledge and experience. It might just be that we come to the point where we humble ourselves to touch and love those our world deems “untouchable”. Inspire us, Lord, on how to give it away! Amen.

July 11^th, 2019, Thurs, 7:55 pm