05. Too Poor, Rich in Faith and Kingdom Potential
Who Are You Preventing From Leading? · Part 05
James 2:5; Mark 12:41-44
Jesus watched people placing their offerings into the treasury.
Many wealthy people gave large amounts. Then a poor widow quietly placed two small coins into the offering box.
Her gift would have been easy to overlook.
But Jesus noticed her.
He called His disciples together and said:
“Most certainly I tell you, this poor widow gave more than all those who are giving into the treasury, for they all gave out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, gave all that she had to live on.”, Mark 12:43-44 WEB
Others saw how little she possessed.
Jesus saw the depth of her faith.
We Often Measure the Wrong Things
When searching for potential leaders, we may naturally notice those who have:
- Financial resources
- Education
- Social connections
- Professional experience
- Impressive facilities
- The ability to support our programs
But God does not measure kingdom potential by a person’s bank account.
James reminds us:
“Listen, my beloved brothers. Didn’t God choose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom which he promised to those who love him?”, James 2:5 WEB
Someone may be poor in possessions and extraordinarily rich in faith.
They may not be able to finance a ministry, but they may carry the gospel into homes we could never enter.
They may not own a building, but they can open their home.
They may not have money to sponsor an event, but they can gather their family and neighbors around God’s Word.
They may not impress potential donors, but they may become faithful disciple-makers who reproduce for generations.
Money Is Useful, But It Is Not the Measure
We must be careful not to confuse financial capacity with spiritual maturity.
Sometimes we unconsciously give greater attention to wealthy people because we imagine what they could contribute to our ministry.
Meanwhile, we overlook people whom God may use to begin a movement.
Jesus did not dismiss the widow because she had little.
He honored her because she surrendered everything.
The question is not merely, “What resources does this person possess?”
The better question is, “What could God do through this person’s faith and obedience?”
Movements Do Not Begin With Wealth
Disciple-making movements do not require expensive buildings, elaborate programs, or large budgets.
They begin when ordinary people obey Jesus, share the gospel, make disciples, and teach those disciples to do the same.
A person with very little money can still pray.
They can still love their neighbors.
They can still tell their story.
They can still share God’s story.
They can still gather a Discovery Bible Study.
They can still disciple their family.
They can still train another believer to make disciples.
And when obedience multiplies, their influence can reach far beyond anything money alone could accomplish.
Do Not Build a Financial Barrier Jesus Never Established
If our ministry model can only be led by people with money, perhaps we have created a model that many of the people Jesus chooses cannot reproduce.
The poor should not merely be viewed as recipients of ministry.
They can become leaders of ministry.
They are not simply people we serve.
They are people God can empower, equip, and send.
The widow had only two small coins, but Jesus saw something in her that others missed.
What might He see in the people we are overlooking?
Challenge: Are we overlooking people because they cannot finance the ministry we envision?
Do not ask only what people can contribute financially.
Look for faith.
Look for obedience.
Look for willingness to surrender.
The person with the fewest possessions may have extraordinary kingdom potential, and may be the very person God intends to use to begin a movement.
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