"These Women"

by CECIL BELTON | Category: These Women | Feb 1956

I.A POOR WIDOW. II. MARY OF BETHANY.

These women were, it seems, of lowly birth;

Their lives considered common-place on earth;

Yet simple deeds not worth the world's record,

Had honourable mention of the Lord.

A poor lone widow, one unknown by name:

The place un-noted also whence she came.

She comes and goes, flits from the busy scene,

And disappears as though she ne'er had been.

But One was there, unknown to her, whose look

Went deeper than the casual glance men took,

Who saw her gift, and more, her motive knew,

And laid them out to everlasting view.

In contrast to this unknown giver, we

A more familiar figure turn to see.

Her home and life at Bethany are known;

Her name and near relations both are shown.

Her lowly mind, her faith, her love, her grief,

Her true devotion shine in bright relief

Against the back-ground of that mundane night

As gems that scintillate with heav'nly light.

I.

"He sat over against the treasury, and beheld ... many that were rich cast in much" (Mark i2. 41).

The jostling crowds of worshippers file past;

Into the treasury their off'rings cast.

Diverse in dress and manners, they appear

A concourse drawn from places far and near.

Rude peasants from the hills of Galilee,

Rich merchants, farmers, dwellers by the sea,

With high-born nobles, men of low degrees,

Fanatic zealots, haughty Pharisees;

And 'mongst them sprinkled men who, by their face,

Their tongue and garb, are not of Hebrew race:

But Gentile proselytes, who now can claim

An entrance in the God of Israel's name.

What if those givers had been conscious that

The Man who o'er against the Treasury sat,

(Who in their sight was but a common man -

A Galilean), was none other than

THE LIVING WORD, in whose dread presence were

The motives and intents of all laid bare;

How very diff'rent would have been the thought

Of many who that day their gifts had brought,

In hopes the plaudits of those folk to draw

Who judged the givings worth by what they saw!

How disconcerting 'twould have been to find

Exposed the inner workings of the mind!

"And there came a poor widow and cast in two mites which make a farthing."

No doubt some donors, from a purer heart,

Gave of their wealth or poverty a part;

Realizing God, who saw them through and through,

Knew their desires and circumstances too:

He would their gifts in His own balance weigh,

And by His standard just their worth assay.

Such was this widow who, folks might have said,

Had thus her pitiful donation made.

Say, would she have withheld her mites had she

Then known the Stranger sitting there was He?

Nay! would she not have gone away content

That He knew all-her need and heart's intent;

And, though so great, He never would despise

That which might paltry seem in other's eyes?

What though she knew not that He prized it more

Than all the rich poured from their surplus store.

What gave that humble widow's lowly mite

Such wealth-surpassing value in His sight?

When ostentatious givers flung their gold

Into the Temple treasury of old?

Was it mere pity for her low estate,

Or scorn of worldly riches? Was it hate

Of mammon-gendered class distinctions which

Despise the poor and glorify the rich?

Nay! He who reads the purpose of the mind,

Perceived what heart-devotion lay behind

Her act; and knew that love alone could call

That needy soul to give to God her ALL!

If half that farthing she had given instead,

And used the rest to purchase daily bread;

Would not the sacrifice have then been great,

Her faith too big for most to imitate?

Or, if she thought her pressing need was such,

That giving from her pittance was too much,

Who would have blamed her if she had retained

Her mites, and so a scanty meal obtained?

But she gave ALL, and left it to His care,

In simple faith, her table to prepare.

"I say unto you, this poor widow cast in more than all ... for they all did cast in of their superfluity; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living."

Who from their surplus cast a portion in,

May from their fellows fleeting glory win;

But God no pleasing sacrifice sees there

They only give that which they well can spare.

'Tis not their gold the Great Assayer tries,

But to heart-motives He His test applies;

And that which springs from sincere love to Him

Is gold of heaven, never waxing dim;

For vain and light before Him must appear

The substitutes that many offer here:

Which only in their dazzling outer sheen

By fascinated human eyes are seen.

Selfish self-sacrifice, and humble pride,

As valueless alloys He casts aside.

True, in some hearts maybe, He sees concealed

Some particles of gold, yet scarce revealed

'Mid such a mass of alien things that He

Well knows must prove but worthless dross to be,

When into heaven's fining-pot they're cast,

And fire divine will try them at the last.

Love for Himself, this is the motive pure

The metal true that shall for aye endure.

Most precious to the heart of Him who gave

Himself in grace, thy graceless self to save.

This gives a splendour to thy tiny gift:

(At which the proud their haughty eyebrows lift.)

Thy lowliest deed exalts to heaven high,

(That they with undisguised disdain pass by).

What matters their apprisement of the worth

Of that thou givest ?-they are of the earth.

Her scornful sons will ne'er thy praises chant;

Thou and thy deeds are insignificant.

Yet rest assured, thy Lord whose glories are

Above earth's transient excellencies far,

Whose wondrous Names such dignities express,

No creature ever held, nor may possess,

Before whose Super-majesty must all

Authorities in earth and heaven fall,

Treats now with proud disdain thy low estate.

Think not that He, whose comprehensive eye

Surveys infinity - eternity,

Can overlook thy gift, and pass it by:

Nor will He, who to instant service holds

The wealth immense His universe enfolds,

E'er scorn thy gift, thy deed, however small;

Thou had'st not much to give, but gav'st thine ALL!

CECIL BELTON | Feb 1956
These Women

Share this article: