I, like most people, am overloaded with tasks and commitments. My to-do list has so much stuff on it that things keep falling over its strained borders. I feel like I am never going to get caught up.

To make matters worse, I sometimes wonder if what I'm doing matters. The results of my efforts rarely measure up to what I hope they will be.  Sometimes my efforts don't produce any discernible results at all. I often feel like I am just throwing my time and effort away, with no result to show for it.

Occasionally I think about downsizing the list.  Problem is that there are a lot of important tasks on the list, responsibilities that I took on because I thought God wanted me to. That makes me hesitant to give 'em the ax.

Still, sometimes I get so overwhelmed, and so frustrated by lack of result, that I think about taking some of those God-directed tasks off my to-do list.  The idea is so tempting. I reason that they aren't making a difference anyway. I tell myself that maybe I misunderstood God's message about them.

But then God tosses some lessons in my path.

Recently the pastor touched on a scripture about the poor widow who gave just a farthing (Mark 12:41-44). She didn't do it to show off. Most people didn't notice what she was doing, and if they did they likely snickered at the meagerness of her gift.  But Jesus noticed. In fact he told his disciples that she had given more than all the rest.

The widow also didn't give in order to get.  She wasn’t anticipating a return on her investment.  She didn't expect the church to give her anything in return; she didn't even expect God to give her anything in return.  The widow gave to show her thanks.  She gave because that is just what she did, what Christians do.

The verses reminded me that I should invest my time in what God wants me to do even if no one else notices and even if I don't see any results.  God is watching.  He knows the time I spend on Christ-pointing projects and other tasks God has placed on my to-do list.

Tithing isn't about the end result of what your money or time "buys." It is not really about that sort of outcome at all.  Tithing is about being faithful and steadfast, and showing God your love for Him.  God sees what no man sees. And God values not only what you do, but why.

I remember that lesson whenever I wonder if my time tithes are important enough to retain their place on my overcrowded to-do list.