When the creditors threatened to put the widow’s sons into indentured service, she cried out to God for help. God sent Elisha to meet her need. After collecting every available pot and jar she could find from all of her neighbors, the widow started pouring oil from her tiny oil jar, as directed by the Prophet of God. The oil did not stop streaming out until the last jar miraculously filled to the very top.
After selling the abundance of oil, the widow paid her bills and spared her sons from a life of slavery for someone else’s profit. She also had oil for herself, the prophet and her family.
What if she told the prophet
she was too tired to gather all of those pots and jars? What if she decided not
to bother her neighbors? What if she had quarreled with her neighbors and no
one agreed to lend her a jar or a pot? She would have missed out on the
blessings of God. It is to our advantage to keep our relationships with our
family, friends and neighbors open. You never know when God will call upon you
to reach out to them in your time of need; or to minister to them in theirs.
What if she went a little
further out into the neighborhood and gathered even more pots and jars? Did she
limit God’s provision by gathering too few containers? She had no idea why the
prophet gave her this command. She may have considered him a little crazy for
telling her to do such a silly chore. As we obey the promptings of God’s Spirit
and trust Him no matter how silly His directions sound, He will supply all of
our needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19). God gives us the anointing of His
Spirit to do all that He calls upon us to accomplish.
Sometimes, I feel too tired
to talk to one more person, go to one more meeting or visit one more church
prospect. What would happen if I failed to obey the Spirit of God and decided
to hide under my covers instead? I would miss the benefits of God’s supply and
deny someone else the blessings that God has in store for them. God gives us
the anointing of His Spirit to do all that He calls us to accomplish. He gives
us the energy to rise up with wings like eagles and soar (Isaiah 40:31).
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You that
You care for us and already provided for every need we will ever have. Thank
You for Your Spirit to lead us every moment of every day in the center of Your
perfect will for us.
Thought for the Day:
God
never promises more than we need, but He does declare that He will supply all
of our needs according to His riches in glory (Matthew 6:33).
