What Old Pennies Teach Me About Faith

Yvonne Morgan

2 months ago

My husband laughs every time a stoop over to pick up a penny from the ground. Once I find them, I collect them in a jar along with all our daily change. When the jar becomes full, I cash it in and use the money towards our mission to help orphans. Picking up pennies may appear as a losing endeavor to many people, but they slowly add up and accomplish a purpose. Do you pick up pennies or just pass them by because they aren’t worth your time?

Pennies seem worthless in our country; in fact, our government will no longer produce them because they cost more to make than they are worth. Each time I see one laying on the ground, I think of the Bible verse from Luke 16:10 (NIV); “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” Can God trust me with the little things, or do I think they are beneath me?

Condition of the Pennies

Some pennies are filthy, old, or beat-up. I collect them anyway because they still have some value, and once in the jar, they will contribute to the purpose I have for them. Other pennies appear shiny and new, but that doesn’t make them worth any more or any less. Once in the jar, do I worry the old tarnished pennies might corrupt the new pennies? No, because I know their condition does not impact how I plan to use them.

If we overlook the pennies because of their condition, will we also overlook the people around us because we think they are not worthy of our time? How we treat the disheveled beggar on the street versus how we treat the well-dressed person at church speaks volumes to God. God sees the worth of each soul regardless of their outward appearance. Christ sees their worth in their purpose for his Kingdom. We too need to look at the worth of a person through the eyes of Christ and not through their physical condition. We all have the same worth to Christ.

Cost of the Pennies

It costs the U.S. Mint over three times a penny’s value to produce one. Financially, it no longer makes sense to continue making them. The penny is no longer worth producing, so our government stopped making them.

Do we weigh the cost of helping someone or consider their worth first?

Helping others comes with a cost, whether it comes from the sacrifice of our time or our resources. Sometimes, we might decide that the effort is not worth the cost or worry about how helping the unsightly person might corrupt us. Jesus did not calculate whether we were worth the sacrifice before going to the cross. His love moved him to give everything for us. If we see those we think are worthless, Christ calls us to remember what he did for us and to follow his example.

Look back at our verse in Luke 16:10: Can God trust us with the little things?

A Penny for Your Thoughts?

Do you pick up pennies or only high-value items? Luke 16:10, the NLT version says it this way: “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones.” If God places a penny in our path, can we be faithful to do what he calls us to do with it? If he can trust us with such a minor task, no telling what he will trust us with in the future.

Prayer

Thank you, Father, for crafting each individual in your likeness. Please forgive me for moments when frustrations, biases, or superficial judgments prevented me from seeing the beauty and worth of the people surrounding me. Grant me a heart filled with compassion, patience, and understanding. Grant me the strength to lift others up, to foster their spirits, and to show each of your children the inherent dignity and respect they are due. Let my words and deeds echo your light, drawing others into your loving embrace. Amen.