May the mumbling commence!
When we are at our wits’ end, we often cannot see the
resources we have. It often takes
someone else to point them out for us… as small and insignificant they may
seem. But, remember: God can take small and insignificant things
and do miraculous things when they are combined with awareness, compassion and
faith. Read from Second Kings chapter
four:
One day the widow of one of Elisha's fellow prophets came
to Elisha and cried out to him, "My husband who served you is dead, and you know how
he feared the Lord. But now a
creditor has come, threatening to take
my two sons as slaves."
"What can I do to help you?" Elisha asked. "Tell me, what
do you have in the house?"
"Nothing at all, except a flask of olive oil," she replied.
And Elisha said, "Borrow
as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors. Then go into your house with your sons and shut
the door behind you. Pour olive oil from your flask into the jars, setting
the jars aside as they are filled."
So she did as she was told. Her sons
brought many jars to her, and she filled one after another. Soon
every container was full to the brim!
"Bring me another jar," she said
to one of her sons.
"There aren't any more!" he told
her. And then the olive oil stopped flowing.
When she told the man of God what had happened, he said
to her, "Now sell the olive oil and pay your
debts, and there will be enough money left over to support you and your
sons." (Verses 1-7)
What do you have?
The answer to the question could be the starting point for lifting us
out of a seemingly impossible situation.
The widow had only a flask of olive oil.
Not much! But it was plenty when
it was combined with faith, compassion and awareness. At least, when asked, the widow was aware of her flask of olive oil.
If someone came to your house asking to borrow
empty jars, would you refuse them. I
think not – especially to someone from the neighborhood that you know is
vulnerable and hurting. It is hard to
know what to do in those times, so such a simple and harmless request to loan
empty jars would be a blessed relief.
Still, here is where compassion
comes in.
And, then, the door was closed. I wonder why.
Why did the door need to close?
It takes extraordinary faith to publicly recognize your need for help,
accept help, and close your door to do what God has called you to do. This widow had faith.
And the olive oil flowed until every container that they
had found was filled to the brim. God
will meet the fullness of our need we are aware of the Lord’s presence, are aware
of what we have, are inclined to compassion, and are practicing our faith. Our debts will be paid, and we will have
enough to live on.
May the Lord and our Christian brothers and sisters help
us to find the olive oil flasks in our lives so that we might build relationships
amongst one another that sustain awareness and compassion and
faithfulness. All glory and honor and
praise unto the Lord!
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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