We’re entering the season of giving. Thanksgiving and Christmas traditionally are fun holidays where we enjoy family and friends, throw parties, attend celebrations, share food, and exchange gifts.
This year – 2021 – we are slowly returning to the good ole days after suffering a couple of years from the COVID-19 pandemic, which closed businesses, eliminated jobs, isolated families, and left some of us struggling daily to survive. While we still are not “back to normal,” we must remember the importance of giving and sharing, especially during this time.
No matter how large or small the gift, gesture, or deed, know that God is working on your behalf too. That’s the lesson that the widow of Zarephath learned. Her story is in 1 Kings 17: 8-24.
A widow was gathering sticks one day in Zarephath during a famine. Food was scarce. Hunger was rampant. Her goal that day was to collect enough wood to build a fire to cook bread with what remained of her flour and oil. She called it her last meal for her and her son, “that we may eat it, and die.”
Meanwhile, God sent his prophet Elijah to the area to look for her. Elijah, who is described as having a single-minded commitment to God, spotted the widow gathering sticks near the city gate.
“Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink,” Elijah said to the widow.
Without one word, the widow began to walk to get the water.
Elijah called again to the widow, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.”
The widow turned to him and declared (probably in frustration): “As the Lord your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.”
Undaunted Elijah responded: “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and after make some for yourself and your son.”
Then, speaking through Elijah, God issued this promise to the widow: “The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.”
The Bible concludes: So, she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and her household ate for many days. The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah. The woman shared what she had, and it saved her life and that of her household. We must share what we have, trusting God. Faith is the step between promise and assurance. Every miracle, large or small, begins with an act of obedience. Giving is the hallmark of the Christian faith – “In the beginning, God gave…,” John 3:16.
QUESTION??
1. When has God pushed you beyond your limit, asking you to obey a command that didn’t make sense at the time or would have depleted your resources. Have you been pushed beyond your comfort zone just to support someone?
2. What does this story teach you about God’s timing?
3. What do you think God is telling you to give this holiday season?
WRITTEN BY CH/TMCH
