Be A Heavenly Hero

*And she gave according to her ability. This woman was wealthy, and we know this, because vs. 8 tells us that she was a "notable" woman. The KJV says she was a "great" woman. And John Gill said she had "great wealth, riches, kindness and hospitality." (2)

*The Shunammite woman was wealthy, so she was able to give a lot. But we can be generous even when we don't have a lot. We can be generous with what we have, knowing that God doesn't ask us to give more than we are able.

*In his second letter to the Christians in Corinth, Paul had a lot to say about giving. The churches were raising money for the very poor Christians in Jerusalem. But God didn't ask the Christians from Corinth to give more than they could afford. Listen to 2 Corinthians 8:12-14 from the New Living Translation.

*There Paul said:

12. If you are really eager to give, it isn't important how much you are able to give. God wants you to give what you have, not what you don't have.

13. Of course, I don't mean you should give so much that you suffer from having too little. I only mean that there should be some equality.

14. Right now you have plenty and can help them. Then at some other time they can share with you when you need it. In this way, everyone's needs will be met.

*God only asks us to give what He provides for us to give. When Jesus was about to feed the 5,000, Luke 9:13 tells us that first the Lord told His disciples: "You give them something to eat.'' That command freaked the disciples out, because there was no way humanly possible that they could feed that huge crowd.

*But Jesus was just testing their faith. He already knew that He was going to miraculously multiply the little boy's lunch of fish and bread. And Jesus could have fed 50,000 or 500,000 with that same little amount of food.

*Nothing is too hard for God! And somehow, He will provide what He asks you to generously give. That's why the Godly woman from Shunam was able to give the right amount.

[2] But also notice that she gave with the right attitude.

*The Godly woman gave because she wanted to help. She was a cheerful giver. And 2 Corinthians 9:7 tells us that God loves a cheerful giver.

*Plus, it's so important to notice that she did not give to get something back. The woman from Shunam didn't ask for anything, and as far as we know, she didn't expect anything. But she did get something special back from the Lord.

*We can see this truth starting in vs. 11:

11. And it happened one day that he (i.e. Elisha) came there, and he turned in to the upper room and lay down there.

12. Then he said to Gehazi his servant, "Call this Shunammite woman.'' When he had called her, she stood before him.

13. And he said to him, "Say now to her, 'Look, you have been concerned for us with all this care. What can I do for you? Do you want me to speak on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?''' And she answered, "I dwell among my own people.''

14. So he said, "What then is to be done for her?'' And Gehazi answered, "Actually, she has no son, and her husband is old.''