“Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.” — 2 Kings 4:2 (NKJV)
This the story of a widow who approached the prophet Elisha in desperation. Her husband had died, leaving her with debts and her creditors were about to take her two sons as slaves. When Elisha ask her what she had in her house, she replied, “Your servant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil”. Elisha instructed her to borrow as many empty jars as possible from her neighbours, go into her house with her sons, shut the door, and began pouring oil into the empty jars. Miraculously, the oil continued to flow until every jar was filled. Elisha then told her to sell the oil, pay off her debts, and live on what remained.
Except a Small Jar of Oil
The widow had nothing else in her house, except for a small jar of oil. How often we say, I’m just a mother, or retired, or ordinary person. We think it a small thing – too small to matter – but in God’s hands, small beginnings can lead to abundant blessings. God starts with what is already in our hands, sometimes things that we overlook or take for granted.
Bring Your Empty Jars
Elisha asked the widow to get empty jars, and said, “don’t ask for just a few”. God was preparing to give the widow as much as she could get, even though she didn’t understand it yet. God often asks us to come as we are – with our emptiness, limitations and lack. He wants us to bring them to Him first.
Keep Pouring
Elisha filled from the widow’s small jar of oil into all the empty jars. He kept pouring until every empty jar was filled. Then the prophet told the widow to sell the oil to pay the debts and lived on what remained.
God’s miracles happen when we are faithful and trust in His plan. Our role is to bring what we have, God’s role is to provide what we cannot.
My Invitation
This is my invitation to you today: recognise your “small jar of oil”, and bring your empty jars to God – that He will pour His abundant blessings into your empty jars that you present to Him in faithfulness.
To me the empty jars signify our expectations & hope in God, also our unfulfilled dreams. How much do we expect from Him & how long do we keep hoping in Him ? Let us give Him the biggest jars we can find, for the longest duration of time possible. Let the blessings of God never stop flowing, let Him fill us to the brim & keep overflowing, so that the blessings flow to others.
Dare to Think BIG & Dream BIG. Tap on to God’s neverending supply. He is afterall our Jehovah Jireh.
Well said. There is a time we should go, and there is a time we should stay (probably for the purpose of resting in God, rediscovering His plans & purposes for our lives, seeking godly wisdom to make crucial decisions at life’s crossroads, etc.). The key of discernment is remaining close to God so we can be sensitive to His voice.
How true it is that drifting may not be intentional. Nevertheless it happens when we started becoming lazy, discouraged, disillusioned or too doubtful/confused to move forward. It’s imperative to end well, complete all our God-given tasks, finish the race. Often it’s easy to start well due to high enthusiasm when starting something new. But God is more impressed and will reward those who end well. Amen.