Giving until it hurts

Mark 12:44  " 'They gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything- all she had to live on.' "

Jesus is speaking to His disciples about the poor widow woman who had given all she had to God's temple.  Surely this woman felt the same internal struggle we might feel in this situation.  The possible rationalizations we could come up with include that God wouldn't ask us to put ourselves and our families at risk by giving away all we have and leaving nothing for ourselves.  We may view this as irresponsible or as a lack of good stewardship of the resources God has given us. 

But isn't the story of the widow giving all she had a perfect reflection of what God asks us to do with our lives?  He doesn't ask for a small portion of our lives, something equivalent to a tithe.  He doesn't ask us to simply give the excess or surplus of our lives to Him, keeping the rest for ourselves.  He asks us to give all of our lives to Him. 

I've heard people say "give until it hurts" in reference to charitable donations and offerings.  God goes much further than this.  He asks us to give until we die.  Giving all of your life to Him means dying to yourself.  That's what He asked of His Son, and it is what He asks of us, as well.