Free Money

Free Money

by Tim Gustafson

2 Kings 4 Elisha Helps a Poor Widow

¹ One day the widow of a member of the group of prophets came to Elisha and cried out, “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.”² “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.³ And Elisha said, “Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors. ⁴ Then go into your house with your sons and shut the door behind you. Pour olive oil from your flask into the jars, setting each one aside when it is filled.”⁵ So she did as she was told. Her sons kept bringing jars to her, and she filled one after another. ⁶ 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.⁷ When she told the man of God what had happened, he said to her, “Now sell the olive oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on what is left over.”

Gary felt guilty, and he didn't know why. Wasn't he doing everything a Christian ought to be doing? After all, he had chosen Christian college and dedicated his life to serving God! Yet a nebulous cloud of guilt fogged Gary's life. He dreaded chapel because of it's testimony time, when students praised God for His goodness in their lives.

Week after week, someone would get up and glowingly report "how the Lord has provided." How Gary hated those words! One student would tell of an anonymous money order that arrived in time of mid-semester tuition. Another received a surprise scholarship.

Gary didn't audibly pray the words, but he thought, Lord I'm serving You. I'm studying hard. I pray and read Your word. My tuition's due too, Lord. How come I don't get free money?

In 2 Kings 4, a widow was in desperate straits (v.1). Her God-fearing husband had died, leaving her face a mean-spirited creditor who was about to take her two sons as slaves.

God's prophet Elisha chose to take an inventory of her resources-a single jar of oil! Then he instructed her to borrow empty jars from her neighbors. Through God's miraculous provision, that oil, coupled with the woman's diligent obedience, turned into a financial windfall (vv.3-7)

It didn't happen instantly for Gary either, but God answered his prayers. Gary could work. He had his health and a decent job. His car, though not impressive, was reliable. he graduated debt-free and now serves God as a pastor.

Do you feel that all the "miracles" are going to others? Praise God for the provisions He makes for you each day.

* Reflect on how God has provided for your needs in the past. Praise Him for the way he has blessed and cared for you!!