What is Your House? Part II
Yesterday, we were introduced to the widow woman described in 2 King 4: verses 1-7. We find a woman who was left without the proper resources to pay off her bills after her husband died, who faced losing her sons to the creditors.
She went to her husband’s employer seeking assistance. She went with the resolve in mind that her husband had been a good employee – faithful in executing his responsibilities on the job.
The prophet Elisha (her husband’s employer) did not mince words – for he knew that one of his employees did not leave his widow without any resources. She answered him by saying, “your servant has nothing at all, except a little oil.” (vs. 2)
She spoke the words that the prophet needed to hear – for in that oil, was the remnant of the work that her husband had performed. It was indeed his legacy to her and her sons! For that anointed oil had been used to usher in the presence of God in the work that her prophet husband had performed. She did not just have a jar of oil, she had a portion of the anointing that had guided her husband’s work!
God never leaves us with nothing. When it seems as if our season has turned, and the work of our hand has been discarded – because of downsizing, or new technology, or because there is a new kid on the block that the employer thinks will perform better than you – we never have to lose heart – God leaves a remnant that will carry us into our next season – if we will only open up the eyes of our heart to see it. When it seems that the world has no use for your skills, discarding them as worn out tools – take heart – God knows how to recycle our old out-of-season hand me downs and fashion them into the latest, most up-to-date commerce, and along with that give a marketing plan to see that the new business gets off the ground! Take a look at what the prophet told the widow:
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 afterward 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.” 2 Kings 4:3-7 NIV
More on this, tomorrow…
Maria
This is an awesome word, thank you Ma for allowing the HolySpirit to use you. I recieve the word of the Lord.
Neesha
I’m learning in my life that there is often, if not always, two sides to every story. When I read the first article of “What’s in your House” for some strange reason I immediately thought about the negative; what’s in my house that should NOT be there.
Having that in mind, the more I read the story in 2 Kings 4 the more I realize that the woman is an example of what God wants us to be. He wants us to be empty of everything but Him (the oil). Once we are, the oil can flow and multiply so that we can bless others and have plenty for ourselves.
The emptying process is both painful and frightening. It is a place of humility and brokenness. It can challenge our faith and make us wonder if the promises of God are really “Yes and Amen”. But if we endure the emptying process, then and only then will we find the flow of the Spirit, the flow of the oil, the blessing of the Lord.