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What's in the House?
2 Kings 4:1-7(NIV) 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. 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 little oil. Elisha said, "Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don't ask for just a few. 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. 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. 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."
In those times it was customary that if you owed a debt and you could not pay it, you had to work it off through manual labor. In this case, the sons would have to work to pay the debt of their father. The mother was fearful of the treatment her sons would receive and she did not want to see them have to be slaves. She cried out to the servant of God and what I want us to focus on is the response of Elisha. In verse 2 we find Elisha´s response. Elisha did not ask how much she needed or what she wanted God to do. He simply asked: What do you have IN the house?
My question to you is: What do you have? What’s already in your hands? What has God already given you? Talents? Abilities? Job? Family? Places of influence? It’s time as women of God that we take inventory of what we have already been given and allow God to advance HIS Kingdom through us.
Remember the Parable of the Talents found in Matthew 25:14-30?
The question that is raised is what are we doing with the abilities God has given us in our place in the Kingdom? Are we fulfilling our roles and responsibilities appropriately and effectively to benefit God’s Kingdom? Are we working our jobs well? Are we managing our money responsibly? Are we taking care of our families and each another? Are we sharing the Gospel with those who need to know Jesus?
When we do well in using our talents, there are benefits with that. The Lord is pleased with us and He calls us faithful and then He gives us even more. Matthew 25:21(NIV) His master replied, ¨Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!¨
It doesn’t look pretty does it? We see in verses 26-28, the one who did nothing is called wicked, lazy and the one talent he did have was taken from him and given to the one with ten.
If we are not faithful to use what He has entrusted to us, we can be assured we will lose it. We have a responsibility as believers in Christ to make sure that we are actively advancing God’s Kingdom through what He has already placed in our hands.
We can’t give God our very least and expect Him to give us His very best! That doesn’t work in a marriage or with God. One partner can’t give the very minimum and expect the other partner to give his or her very best.
God advances His Kingdom through His people and we are responsible to be the channel that He uses.
Don’t be afraid to say, “Yes! I’ll do it God! I’ll go, God! Lord, you can count on me!”
Prayer: Lord, I want to thank You for the abilities and talents You have entrusted to me. Lord, I desire nothing less than to know You are pleased with me. I do want to be a part of advancing Your Kingdom. Here are times I feel I have nothing to offer but I know that is not true. Help me see what You’ve already placed in my hands and help me to be aware of the opportunities that are around me. I am Your daughter and You are my God. Amen
Copyright © 2008-2015 Melinda Henderson
Reader Comments...
| 2009-11-03 15:58:25 "While in the midst of paying my bills and wondering how I was going to be able to continue on paying them, I received your email. After I read thru everythin, I came to the Prayer part of the article. As I started to read it, tears welled up in my eyes. For it was that moment that I realized that GOD was talking to me, and was answering my prayer. Thank you for sharing this." - Trisha |
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