Multiply by Faith
Opening Prayer
God, help me to reach out to others when I have need and to be there for others so You can use me.
Read 2 Kings 4:1-7
[1] 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.” Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What did Elisha tell the widow to do?We’ve seen that Elisha has assumed leadership of a “company of prophets,” a training school similar to Jesus and his disciples. When one of the company dies leaving his widow in debt, she pleads for assistance on the basis that her husband “revered the Lord” (1). His complete devotion to God didn’t allow him the luxury of building wealth. Elisha responds. But the response requires three things. First, the woman must bring what she has (2)–a little oil. Second, she must invite others to help (3). Finally, she must act in faith. Elisha gives her specific instructions when she gathers jars from her friends and neighbors: “Don’t ask for just a few” (3). Shutting the door (4) echoes Jesus’ words about not making a great show of God’s work. It seems that the first two instructions were followed, but the third may have been a little lacking. The oil stopped after the jars were exhausted (6), suggesting that the oil would have flowed forever if not limited by the number of jars or her faith.
Apply
A life easily managed without practiced faith is too small. Ask God where your adventure of genuine faith might begin.
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