A beggar taught me about the real riches of Christ. He stood outside a store, reaching out a cup to passersby. He did not say anything. A second beggar sidled up to him with his begging bowl. The second one tipped his bowl over, signaling that he had nothing. Then the first one tipped over all the contents of his bowl into his friend’s cup. The friend looked astonished but accepted the gift, bowed slightly in gratitude, and walked away.
That simple exchange, lasting only a moment, taught me that my relationship with Christ was backward. I thought I had to be near perfect to have a relationship with Him. I felt I had to be full of knowledge and goodness. But ultimately, I became full of myself.
I had crowded out Christ with my need to accumulate goodness. I had forgotten the message of the widow’s mite. Jesus watched rich people putting money in the synagogue treasury. Then a poor widow put in two small coins. Jesus taught His disciples that the widow’s coins were more valuable because she gave out of her poverty, not her riches. The last Greek clause could also be translated as “her whole life.” She opened her whole person and purse to God’s full purpose.
I had become a wealthy giver, not like the poor widow. Christ does not need our smartest, most pious selves; He wants our whole “poor” selves. I do not have to perfume away my errors or polish away my ragged edges. It is such a relief not to feel as if I need to be perfect to reach Christ’s love.
As I extend my begging bowl to Christ, I am grateful that He empties His entire bowl into my poor cup. His love digs far deeper than my flaws and failures.
The poor widow opened wide to Christ the treasure of her entire self. When we empty ourselves, Christ can fill us with all He has for us.
Try offering Christ your empty, imperfect self. Let Him do the perfecting. He’s better at it.
Ron Bullis is a writer.