Devotion:
Read 1 Kings 17:8-16.
Now be honest...as you read this interesting story, did you think as I did of the nursery rhyme, “Old Mother Hubbard?” This poor widow’s cupboard was all but bare, with only a small amount of flour and oil remaining for a paltry final meal for herself and her son. But God was about to use what she had to produce abundance. I can only imagine how she felt taking part of that meager handful of flour and making a small loaf of bread for Elijah before preparing anything for her own son, but she believed and trusted God’s promise to provide.
This obscure story, tucked as it is into the larger story of the prophet Elijah, is one of those examples of God instructing us not to worry so much about what we lack but rather to focus on what we do have. Soon after Christ Church constructed the multipurpose building and the first parts of our children’s and adult buildings, we began to run out of classroom space. The bid to expand our education buildings came in at $150,000; and the bank agreed to loan us $100,000, but no more. We asked everyone to bring an extra one-time offering. We counted it -- just over $50,000! None of us made a huge sacrifice or went hungry. We just gave what we had and trusted God to provide. Perhaps we should not worry so much about what we do not have but rather offer generously from what we do have and trust God!
Personal Worship Option:
Think of a time in your life when someone gave you something small, seemingly of little value, that made a huge difference. God has a way of using small offerings in powerful ways. Ask in your prayers today for the ability to always see what you do have more powerfully than what you may lack.
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