Word for Today.............Nothing But Some Oil
Scripture: And Eli'sha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil. 2 Kings 4:2
Not anything in the house, save a pot of oil.
This story begins with the desperate cry of a widow to Elisha, the prophet. The desperation is not only that her sons could be sold into slavery to pay off her debts, but that she has no other support if this action is carried out. She has already suffered a devastating event with the death of her husband and is now deep in debt with creditors beating on her door for payment. This is definitely the strategy of the devil to always follow one tragic situation with another with an attempt to break us down. Ask Job how he felt when he lost his wealth, his children AND his health. Not to mention, he wasn’t on very good terms with his wife, who constantly nagged him about his personal and spiritual beliefs. Now this woman is faced with the possibility of loosing her sons as well, because if they are sold into slavery, they too might as well be dead. Though this woman is not identified in the text, it doesn’t mean that God didn’t know her. The bible says in 2 Timothy 2:19a, “Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, the Lord knows those who are His.” We need to remember that though our names are not in lights across America, God is still concerned about our well being.
After telling Elisha her problems, he asked, “what do you have of value in your house?” She thought and thought…NOTHING…nothing because she was poor, a widow and in danger of losing everything already. She didn’t have anything….EXCEPT some oil. “Nothing except a pot of OIL” was her reply when asked what she has in her house. Because it wasn’t overflowing she didn’t figure it was worth anything. It is amazing that we can have everything we need right in front of us, but because it isn’t special enough or overflowing or like others, we say it is NOTHING! Oil was a very valuable commodity in that day; it was like money or gold. It was used in lamps for light; it was used in cooking food and anointing (both ceremonially and for healing). If you had a lot of it, it would be worth a lot of money. But she didn’t have a lot --- only a pot! But when we are at our least, God is getting ready to be glorified and show His best. Remember the 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread that Jesus blessed, and used to feed the multitude. We have to take the things that God has already given us and use them for His glory and He will multiply it. Many times, especially in this economy we are constantly reminded of what we don’t have or how far we should be in our lives. Instead of dwelling on what we don’t have, we need to bear in mind that we DO HAVE God. The bible says that the earth is the Lord’s and the FULLNESS therefore and they that dwell therein. HE also told us that He owns cattle on a thousand hills. And we are His children and have a right to own some too. In this trying time of our American history we need need to take time to focus on what God has already given us and believe that He will multiply it, like He did for this widow woman!
Be Blessed!
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