Bring Life Into Your House Again

BRINGING LIFE INTO YOUR FAMILY AGAIN

Building and maintaining a great family required a great and wise woman. The book of Proverbs describes her worth and character.

Pro 31:10 "Who can find a wife with a strong character? She is worth far more than jewels.

Pro 31:25 She dresses with strength and nobility, and she smiles at the future.

The strength and nobility of a woman can only be tested by the real life predicament. Her calculated decision and action before and during time of pressures will reveal her real worth. The Shunammite Woman in our text today will demonstrate the value of woman’s character when death wields its sword against her family.

THE STRENGHT OF GREAT WOMAN THAT BUILDS HER FAMILY

2ND KING 4:8-37

I - HER CHARACTER SHOWN BEFORE TROUBLES COMES

2Ki 4:8 One day Elisha went to the town of Shunem. A wealthy woman lived there, and she invited him to eat some food. From then on, whenever he passed that way, he would stop there to eat.

2Ki 4:9 She said to her husband, "I am sure this man who stops in from time to time is a holy man of God.

2Ki 4:10 Let’s make a little room for him on the roof and furnish it with a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp. Then he will have a place to stay whenever he comes by."

2Ki 4:11 One day Elisha returned to Shunem, and he went up to his room to rest.

2Ki 4:12 He said to his servant Gehazi, "Tell the woman I want to speak to her." When she arrived,

2Ki 4:13 Elisha said to Gehazi, "Tell her that we appreciate the kind concern she has shown us. Now ask her what we can do for her. Does she want me to put in a good word for her to the king or to the commander of the army?" "No," she replied, "my family takes good care of me."

2Ki 4:14 Later Elisha asked Gehazi, "What do you think we can do for her?" He suggested, "She doesn’t have a son, and her husband is an old man."

2Ki 4:15 "Call her back again," Elisha told him. When the woman returned, Elisha said to her as she stood in the doorway,

2Ki 4:16 "Next year at about this time you will be holding a son in your arms!" "No, my lord!" she protested. "Please don’t lie to me like that, O man of God."

2Ki 4:17 But sure enough, the woman soon became pregnant. And at that time the following year she had a son, just as Elisha had said.

2Ki 4:18 One day when her child was older, he went out to visit his father, who was working with the harvesters.

2Ki 4:19 Suddenly he complained, "My head hurts! My head hurts!" His father said to one of the servants, "Carry him home to his mother."

1 – SHE SOW THE SEED OF GENEROSITY V8

2Ki 4:8 “…she invited him to eat some food. From then on, whenever he passed that way, he would stop there to eat.”

Undoubtedly, this woman built the future of her family by helping other people’s present need. Even with the greatness of the universe and the multitudes of people on this planet, but God never missed to noticed the kindness that this Shunammite woman shown to His servant. In due time, God will surely compensate all the kindness that we shown to other people especially to the men of God.

2 – SHE PAY RESPECT TO HER HUSBAND V9

2Ki 4:9-10 “She said to her husband,…Let’s make a little room for him”

Wise woman knows her rightful place and she know how to submit and give respect to her husband. Notice that her husband approves all her suggestions. A woman doesn’t need to be bossy in order to get what she wants.

3 – SHE CAN DISCERN ABOUT SPIRITUAL THINGS – V9

2Ki 4:9 …"I am sure this man who stops in from time to time is a holy man of God.

Wise woman knows where to put her investment. She knows that the man of God is a fertile ground. Investing her seed to the right place will mean great harvest. But more than the selfish motives, this woman has a sense of spiritual awareness. She can discern the genuine from counterfeits. Hence being godly doesn’t mean ignorance.

4 – SHE SHOW KINDNESS TO GOD’S SERVANT V10

2Ki 4:10 Let’s make a little room for him on the roof and furnish it with a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp. Then he will have a place to stay whenever he comes by."

Surely, there are many homeless people during that time. But this man of God caught the attention and care of this woman. She may never have the ability to preach and prophesy. But by helping the man of God do his task, this woman touch the heart of God. Those who are helping to advance God’s Kingdom and propagate His word will surely get the attention of the Most High God.