Pennies Scattered…for Jesus

So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.” Luke 21:3-4 NKJV

Some of the happiest hours of my youth were spent in our small town’s roller-skating rink. Great were the joys of spinning in circles, skating backwards, listening to pop music, and—ooh la la—dancing to “couples only” songs. Under a twinkling disco ball, my friends and I laughed, tumbled, and flirted in innocent fun.

I had my own roller skates sporting yellow rabbit-fur pompons with bells. I loved to shake those bells on one particular song, “The Hokey Pokey.”* At least once every afternoon session at the rink, all the skaters made a big circle on the wooden floor and went through the motions of the song, clapping at the end of each verse. 

As the final chorus ended, the rink owner would appear and dump a double handful of pennies on the floor. Immediately, skaters flattened to the floor and scrambled to grab coins flying in every direction. It was a great marketing tactic because we all carried them to the snack bar afterward to buy fountain drinks and candy!

Those pennies were priceless…and now, they’re fading into history. With nonstop U.S. inflation, our copper coins are no longer cost-effective to mint. I’m going to miss them.

A penny in Scripture, however, still carries significance through the story of the widow who appears at the temple and gives all she has to the Lord, a single mite. 

Jesus points out her generosity in comparison with the wealthy who relish letting their gifts “jangle” in a showy public display. The widow’s penny scarcely makes a sound falling into the offertory box, but her humility still echoes loudly through history. Would that we, who live among the richest people in the world, have the same giving spirit!

This week, our church is hosting its annual Missions Conference, driving home the importance of contributing to the cause of Christ around the world and at home. We’re called to make a “Faith Promise” pledge, to look for ways we can give above and beyond our tithes for aiding families and for evangelism in the name of Jesus Christ.

While we need to give large sums over a year’s time, it’s easier when we regard our gifts as only pennies per day. You’d be surprised what a tiny sum can do when offered consistently over time. Through our church’s various mission programs, our donations send food and shelter to disaster zones, comfort those in refugee camps in battle-torn areas, offer the Gospel message to college students, teach Christian leaders where countries are hostile to Christianity, print Bibles in native languages, fly planes to remote villages, plant churches, and more.

You could compare your pennies to tiny seeds, unimportant and inconsequential. But when scattered across fertile soil, they produce a hundredfold of fruits. As we Christians at home help buy the seeds, those who serve on the mission field are tilling the soil for God to supply the harvest. 

Before you give, pray. Ask God to give you wisdom, prudence, balance, and a sacrificial spirit. I’ve been surprised many times when He has touched my heart for a specific amount. When my husband and I pray together, we frequently receive the same number from God! Where He guides you, He will provide the funding. 

Next time you hear an appeal from a Christian organization that supports the Lord’s work on the frontlines, peek inside your wallet. Still have a few pennies in there? Calculate how many of them it would take every day to make a good contribution. Then go online to make it happen.

Consider sharing your pennies first with your home church’s missions and then with reputable agencies like Voice of the Martyrs, Samaritan’s Purse, Compassion, Mission to the World, aviation missions, and other agencies with far-reaching impact. 

Seek the Lord in your giving, whether it’s mites or millions. He will bless you far more abundantly than you could ever ask or imagine. Take it from someone who once belly-flopped on hardwood floors for scattered pennies!

Generous and loving Christ, I praise You for Your sacrificial gift of salvation to me, an undeserving recipient of Your great love. Teach me to be more like You every day, showing me ways I can help others in Your name. Give me a caring heart, and lead me to new opportunities to serve You. In Your priceless name, Jesus, Amen.

Nancy C. Williams is a Christian wife/mom with a writing career spanning more than 40 years in business and journalism. Williams is the author of the novel To Love a Falcon and the devotional book A Crocus in the Desert: Devotions, Stories, and Prayers for Women Experiencing Infertility. Her blogs are featured on Crossmap.com and AriseDaily. To follow Nancy’s posts and news, go to her home page at NancyCWilliams.com and subscribe at the bottom. 

© Copyright 2026 Nancy C. Williams (text and photography). Unless otherwise noted, Scripture verses are taken from the New King James Version®, Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. #pennies #valueofapenny #missions #world #evangelism #vom #samaritanspurse #compassion #mtw #missionaviation #generosity

* The Hokey Pokey song…. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_XN6HUTZ7E&list=RDQ_XN6HUTZ7E&start_radio=1