Stewardship: Doing In Times Of Little
1Kings 17:1-24
Since 2004, we have always set aside February as stewardship month, in which we talk about the use of our spiritual gifts, the use of our time and the use of our resources. Last week I started the stewardship series, by looking at Stewardship: Giving In Times Of Little. Today, I would like to share with you on Stewardship: Doing In Times Of Little.
In the scripture passage read earlier we see the biblical account of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath. In this biblical narrative, the context is set in a time of drought and famine in the land. There was not much to go around, especially if you were poverty stricken like this poor widow.
It was a time of great hardship and difficulty for the man of God and the widow. It was a time in which many persons who were generous in their time, money or good deeds would start to think twice. It was a time when the natural response to the hardship would be self withdrawal.
This is much the same for us today, because as we are faced with the reality of an economic crisis, locally and internationally, our natural instinct is that of self preservation by withdrawal. We begin to refrain from giving, which we talked about last week, and also we refrain from doing anything.
Whenever we refrain from doing anything we render our spiritual giftedness useless and we miss out on the opportunity to touch lives for Christ. The word of God tells us that we are created for ministry, as such there is always an opportunity to do something anything for Christ. Listen to what the word of God says…
"For we are God’ s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Eph. 2:10 NIV)
We are required to be doing, and not withdrawing even in times of little. As such, there are three very important lessons we can learn from Elijah and the widow of Zarephath about doing in times of little.
From the text we learn that in times of little…
1. God Still Wants Us To Go
The bible tells us that the word to Elijah from God was…
"Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food." (1Kings 17:9 NIV)
In these crucial times or times of little, many persons will tell you and in some cases many of you will be tempted not to do anything or to refrain from doing anything. As I have said before, it would seem that this is the natural recourse to take; TO WITHDRAW FOR PRESERVATION PURPOSES. However, God’s stewardship teachings indicate that in times of little that’s when are required to GO.
More than ever, you are to GO, because some people may believe that all that is left is to die. The first step in our doing anything in times of little is that we must get up and GO, and Elijah did just that.
The reasons why we are to go is so that…
a) You Can Be Used By God
The Lord told Elijah to go because a woman was instructed to provide food for him. However, what Elijah did not know was how God would be using him to transform the woman’s life.
When Elijah met the woman, she was not only a widow, but a poor widow and a widow that is about to eat her last and die, along with her son. Immediately, upon seeing the woman, the bible tells us that God gave him word for her; a word that declares…
“For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ’The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land” (1Kings 17:14-15 NIV)
We can never know how God will use us in whatever circumstances he bids us to go. We will never know what people are going through and how God can use us to help them if we are not willing to go. As such, in times of little we must always be willing to do and not withdraw.
b) You Can Be A Blessing By God
I am sure that probably all Elijah thought about was his belly, as it was evidenced that when he came upon the woman his conversation surrounds satisfying his hunger. The text states that…
So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, "Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?" As she was going to get it, he called, "And bring me, please, a piece of bread." (1Kings 17:10-11 NIV)
Elijah thought about his belly; the hardship; the little, but God showed him how much more a blessing he could be to the woman.
At the same time, God showed the woman as well that even when you have little and are willing to do for others you can expect a blessing. In times of little, it is not a time to withdraw and die (spiritually & physically), it a time filled with opportunities to do more. As you do more, you will realize how God blesses you. Both Elijah and the widow experienced that first hand.
From the text we learn that in times of little…
2. God Still Wants Us To Share
The bible stated that with regards to the widow…“ She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family” (1Kings 17:14-15 NIV)
I want to realize something about the text, that though the woman went and did what Elijah had asked it was not easy; as she gave an analysis of her circumstances to Elijah. She wanted Elijah to know that she did not have plenty, but she was willing to share. Also, she wanted Elijah to know that in case he was looking for seconds, he should think twice. NOWHERE IN THE TEXT DOES IT IMPLY THAT SHE WAS UNWILLING TO SHARE.
Scriptures encourages us to always share and look out for others….
“Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality” (Romans 12:13 NIV)
God wants us to share in times of little so that…
a) You Do Not Become Selfish
In times of little it is very easy to become selfish and think about ourselves, more than others. In times of little it would seem only natural for you think about yourself first. However, the story of the widow reminds us that even in times of little we can think about others, even above ourselves.
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3 NIV)
When you are selfish, you will certainly miss out on the opportunity to touch others life. When you are selfish you will miss seeing God using what you have to accomplish the impossible. When you are selfish what you have will eventually die, finish, but when you lend what you have to God it gets life and give sustaining life to people.
It is no wonder that scripture states that God is pleased when we share and not become selfish. Listen to the writer of Hebrew…
“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased” (Hebrews 13:16 NIV)
b) You Become Selfless
When we are selfless, we learn to consider others, and others will consider us. Many persons though they are Christians, are really mean, misers and thoughtless individuals who could do well with a little dose of thinking about others.
The widow could easily have told Elijah that she cannot share with him her last supper. However, if she had done just that then she would have missed out on her blessings as well having the man of God in her home and seeing God doing the miraculous.
When we share with others we are fulfilling the commandment that instructs us to do so…
“Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share” (1Timothy 6:18 NIV)
In spite of the little in which we all obviously have God’s desire for us is that WE STILL GO AND THAT WE STILL SHARE, do not withdraw or refrain from doing for others.
From the text we learn that in times of little…
3. God Still Wants Us To Care
The text tells us that later on the widow’s son died and that Elijah began crying unto the Lord on behalf of the household, as a result we are told that…
“The LORD heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned to him, and he lived” (1Kings 17:22 NIV)
In times of little we do the next best thing of showing that we care about what is happening with others, and when we care about others…
a) It will cause us to call on God
We are told that when the widow’s son died Elijah called on God for help and God answered his call. In times of little we must remember that our insufficiency is nothing in comparison to God. As such, as long as we care for others we will need the help of God and the strength of God to see us through.
We can be confident that when we call on God that he will hear and he will respond, because scripture teaches us that…
“He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him” (Psalm 91:15 NIV)
In our times of little or insufficiency we have no alternative but to call on God, because he is our all sufficient God.
b) It will cause others to trust in God
After the widow saw her son being brought back from the dead, the text tells us that she declared…
“Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is the truth." (1Kings 17:24 NIV)
For many persons they are yet to believe that God can help. However, in times of little, and especially these times, it is a golden opportunity for people to see that our God is able. People need to see that our God is able to supply; our God is able to do the miraculous; our God is able to save. OUR GOD IS MIGHTY TO SAVE.
Sometimes in our times of little, we may be all caught up with the reality of the little we have. However, in God eyes there is a much bigger concern, and that is our need for him in our lives.
Powerpoint and sermon outline/handout can be acquired by e-mailing white_logos@yahoo.co.uk
