Leaving Beyond – Grounded In Scripture

Written by: April J. Buchanan

In recent years, I have come to a deeper understanding of passages of Scripture that are often misunderstood and abused, texts that, when rightly exposited, expose two very different responses. On the one hand, there are faithful teachers who, upon submitting themselves to the Word, recognize their error, receive correction from the text, and publicly teach what Scripture plainly reveals. On the other hand, there are men who, having built systems upon abuse of the text, continue willfully and woefully to exploit both Scripture and the hearer, even after correction has been made clear.

One such passage is that of the poor widow of whom Jesus said that she had given all she had to live on.

This text has long been abused. Yet many careful teachers, submitting themselves to the authority of Scripture, have acknowledged their misunderstanding, corrected it, and taught what the passage actually says rather than what tradition or pragmatism once assumed it meant.

Others, however, those who stand in line with the very men Jesus warns of as devourers of widows’ houses, ignore such correction until they are forced into giving what appears to be public repentance. But time reveals the truth. Their repentance proves hollow as they return to the same practices, continuing to devour widows’ houses under religious language and spiritual manipulation.

This passage does not teach that we ought to be like the poor widow. It does not present her as a model for giving. In fact, it teaches the opposite.

The widow is shown to be a victim of a corrupt religious system that robbed widows of their livelihood. What we see here bears a striking resemblance to what is known today as the prosperity gospel and its evil doctrines. This is not a story exalting sacrificial giving. It is an indictment of a system that exploits the vulnerable under the guise of devotion.

Scripture does command and encourage giving. But it never commands giving under compulsion.

The poor widow stands as an example, not of faith to imitate, but of a greedy system that exploits, robs, and bankrupts the helpless.

Yet it is not uncommon to hear health and wealth preachers point to this widow and urge their hearers to give their last, promising that such a gift will sow into “good ground” and guarantee a miracle, healing, breakthrough, or blessing. They assure their listeners that if they give like the widow, God will be obligated to respond.

Scripture does not teach this. Wicked men do.

Scripture teaches that we are to give, give generously, give wisely, and even teaches us how not to give. We are explicitly told not to give out of compulsion.

This poor widow is not a model for “sacrificial giving,” nor is she an example of how to manipulate God into giving us what we want. The text does not teach that by giving out of our poverty we can obligate God to act on our behalf.

Context matters.

This account follows a warning. Jesus says, “Beware of the scribes.” He describes them as men who walk around in long robes, who desire respectful greetings in marketplaces, the best seats in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. Then He further exposes their true character. They devour widows’ houses. Let that sink in. This is not uncommon today. Furthermore, for appearance’s sake they offer long prayers. And He concludes with this sobering statement. These will receive greater condemnation.

Does that sound like a system we are meant to emulate?

Immediately after this warning, Jesus sits down opposite the treasury and observes the crowd putting money into it. The wealthy give out of their surplus. Then the poor widow gives out of her poverty, everything she had to live on.

False teachers take this warning and twist it into a model. Greedy men in pulpits turn this scene into a fundraising strategy, promising gullible souls miracles and blessings if they will just give more, if they will just give like the widow. They claim their ministry is “good ground” to “sow into” so you can get a guarantee on your investment.

But the problem is not only the false teachers.

It is also the desire of those who believe that if they give enough, God must respond. That if they give more than others, not from abundance but from desperation, God will be obligated to grant what they want.

This is not faith.

This is not giving that glorifies God.

It is a false and wicked system, sold by men who profit from it and embraced by those who want God to function as a vending machine for their desires.

Friend, Scripture can be manipulated by wicked men in the pulpit to say whatever sinful men in the pew want to hear. While the teacher bears greater condemnation for the willful abuse of God’s Word, the problem does not stop at the pulpit.

It extends into the pew.

There are many who cannot endure sound doctrine and instead gather teachers who promise blessings, miracles, and breakthroughs in God’s name. Many churches today have become marketplaces, men selling lies to souls eager to invest in whatever promises them what they desire.

But Scripture does not bend to our desires.

And God is not honored by systems that exploit the vulnerable, manipulate His Word, and turn giving into a transaction rather than an act of worship.

Grace and peace, y’all.
Soli Deo Gloria