May I give you my two cents?

In Luke, Chapter 21, verses 1-4, Jesus observes the behavior of financial giving in the temple. He sees the rich putting money into the treasury as well as a poor widow who puts in two copper coins. The widow is destitute, but gives “all that she has.”

She could have been very bitter about her situation. Yet, in spite of everything, the widow still shows a sign being faithful, generous, and sacrificial; she gives her two cents.

The obvious — this represents a very small amount; yet her action revealed the wealth of her heart and proved to be a powerful witness.

Many have theorized that the term “giving my two cents” may have originated from this story; the hope associated with a small offering of advice that could surprisingly prove to be of great value.

Another expression that uses “two cents” is “that isn’t worth two cents.” This saying may have originated from the use of two copper coins placed on the eyelids of a pauper being prepared for burial — harsh judgments made about the value of those coins and that of a poor person.

What follows in Luke, Chapter 21, is a description of great calamities which foresaw the future fall of Jerusalem and similar events.

In 2010, Christian minister Pat Robertson used such verses as a springboard to talk about a specific cataclysmic event. He gave commentary about a 7.0 earthquake that occurred in Haiti. Initial reports were that perhaps “100,000 people” had been killed.

Robertson: “They were under the heel of the French; you know Napoleon III and whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said ‘We will serve you if you will get us free from the prince.’ True story. And so the devil said, ‘OK it’s a deal’. And they kicked the French out.”

Giving my two cents – Robertson claims were not worth two cents. They contained false claims and were a gross misuse of Scripture.

The event Robinson was referring to occurred in the year 1791. The reported contemporary details of that event are unclear. The Haitians believed in “voodoo” and not the devil. Their actual independence was in 1805. Napoleon III was born in 1808.

The misuse of Scripture in this manner lessens its value to the world. So, be careful not to do so. Just my two cents.

Walter is pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church and has served as parish pastor for more than 25 years.