Trusting God with Our Insignificants
2 Kings 4:2: "And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? Tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil."
“Tell me, what hast thou in the house?” The widow’s response is really no different than what most of us would have said, had we been in her shoes. She barely even mentions the pot of oil…it was the last thing that actually came to her mind. She mentioned it as if it was really nothing. To her, this pot of oil was insignificant in comparison to what she actually needed to meet her need, hence the hesitation in even bringing it up. However, the very last thing that was on her mind was the first thing that was on God’s mind!
When she thought she was out of options, God used her insignificant pot of oil to provide for her need. Isn’t that just like God? We can find ourselves in despair, wondering where we are going to make ends meet, so to speak, and then all of a sudden, seemingly from out of nowhere, comes an idea, a solution, a remedy, for our problem, and more times than not, it is directly tied to something already within our grasp. Much like the disciples who toiled all night and caught nothing, and then Jesus came along and told them to cast the net on the other side. They did, and you know the rest of the story. They caught a great multitude of fish! Same boat, different strategy. All it took was an inspired fresh look with an inspired new strategy with the same old stuff.
And did you know, that if you will take your nothings to God, He can do the same for you? I know we have been taught that you can’t squeeze blood out of a turnip, but that’s only if God is not in the equation. However, the truth is, with God, ALL things are possible! He can take your seemingly impossible situation, give you an idea you’ve never had or a set of instructions for you to follow, and voila, all is well because of His touch! But there are two things I notice in the text that will be true under any scenario in which God does this for His children.
First, there will be a giving of your own meager resources. An investment, if you will, no matter how small. The size of the sacrifice is not as important as your willingness to obey. And that leads to the second element; complete and total obedience. If you are willing to give and obey at God’s Word, then after you step out on faith and do as He commands with what little you have in your “house,” then God will bless in such a way that it will be nothing short of a supernatural miracle just begging you to give God all the glory. Have faith in God, give Him your insignificants, and watch Him go to work!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill
“Tell me, what hast thou in the house?” The widow’s response is really no different than what most of us would have said, had we been in her shoes. She barely even mentions the pot of oil…it was the last thing that actually came to her mind. She mentioned it as if it was really nothing. To her, this pot of oil was insignificant in comparison to what she actually needed to meet her need, hence the hesitation in even bringing it up. However, the very last thing that was on her mind was the first thing that was on God’s mind!
When she thought she was out of options, God used her insignificant pot of oil to provide for her need. Isn’t that just like God? We can find ourselves in despair, wondering where we are going to make ends meet, so to speak, and then all of a sudden, seemingly from out of nowhere, comes an idea, a solution, a remedy, for our problem, and more times than not, it is directly tied to something already within our grasp. Much like the disciples who toiled all night and caught nothing, and then Jesus came along and told them to cast the net on the other side. They did, and you know the rest of the story. They caught a great multitude of fish! Same boat, different strategy. All it took was an inspired fresh look with an inspired new strategy with the same old stuff.
And did you know, that if you will take your nothings to God, He can do the same for you? I know we have been taught that you can’t squeeze blood out of a turnip, but that’s only if God is not in the equation. However, the truth is, with God, ALL things are possible! He can take your seemingly impossible situation, give you an idea you’ve never had or a set of instructions for you to follow, and voila, all is well because of His touch! But there are two things I notice in the text that will be true under any scenario in which God does this for His children.
First, there will be a giving of your own meager resources. An investment, if you will, no matter how small. The size of the sacrifice is not as important as your willingness to obey. And that leads to the second element; complete and total obedience. If you are willing to give and obey at God’s Word, then after you step out on faith and do as He commands with what little you have in your “house,” then God will bless in such a way that it will be nothing short of a supernatural miracle just begging you to give God all the glory. Have faith in God, give Him your insignificants, and watch Him go to work!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill