Two wealthy Christians, a lawyer and a merchant, joined a party going around the world.

In Korea one day they saw a field by the side of the road, a boy pulling a crude plow, while the old man held the plow handles and guided it. The lawyer was amused and took a picture of the scene.

“That’s a curious picture. I suppose they are very poor,” he said to the missionary who was the interpreter and guide. “Yes,” was the reply. “That is the family of Chi Noui. When the place or worship was being built, they were eager to give something to it, but they had no money so they sold the only ox they had and gave the money to the church. This spring they are pulling the plow themselves.”

The men were silent for several minutes, then the business man said, “That must have been a real sacrifice.” “They did not call it that,” answered the missionary. “They were happy that they had an ox to sell.”

The lawyer and business man had not much to say. When they reached home, the lawyer took the picture to his preacher and told him of the incident. “I want to double my contribution to the church,” he said. “And give me some plow work to do. I have never known what sacrifice for the Lord meant. A converted heathen had to teach me. I am ashamed to say that I have never given anything to the church that cost me anything.”

Mark 12:41-44 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

As Jesus watches our giving each Sunday, and as He watches our lives for the rest of the week, what is He seeing about us? Do we sacrifice? IS HE REALLY FIRST IN OUR LIVES?