MORE THAN ENOUGH
Opening Prayer
“Who is like the Lord our God… He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap” (Psa. 113:5–7).
Read 2 Kings 4:1–7
The Widow’s Olive Oil
4 The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”
2 Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”
“Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.”
3 Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. 4 Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”
5 She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. 6 When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.”
But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing.
7 She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Have you ever been at rock bottom?When life crumbles around us and we feel we are lurching from one disaster to the next, do we really believe God loves us enough to bring us out of trouble? Do we believe God has power to transform desperate situations?
Consider the widow’s dire predicament (1): she faced losing her only hope of future security (her sons) to pay crippling debts. She had nothing left but a jar of oil between her and destitution.
At rock bottom, when we are emotionally and physically spent, we feel we are nothing, have nothing (2). God gives us a different perspective. He asks us to obey him with the little we have. This woman had a jar of oil and two sons. Jesus’ disciples had five loaves and two fish. Our scanty resources do not limit our mighty God!
Although the neighbors give their empty pots, this is not about a family saved through the charity of others. They are saved by obeying God’s word and by acting on what they know of God’s character and his power (3). God is more than enough for every situation, however desperate.
Apply
What do you have? Talents? Time? Money? How can you be obedient to the Lord with what you have?
Closing prayer
Lord, give me a deeper understanding of Your power and goodness. Take all I am and use me for Your glory.
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