(Fourth part)
Memory verse: I Kings 17:10-14 "... And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. For thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the LORD sends rain on the earth ”
There’s a world wide economic recession today. It’s not been the first one. Though, the Bible is full of records of famines, i.e. economical bad times. There was famine in the days of Abraham, Isaac. Egypt in days of Joseph, Israel in days of king Ahab, in the days of King David etc. In all those dark days God raised up men and women who feared him to bring divine solutions. God inspired Isaac to sow in the famine and he prospered mightily; God gave Joseph the economic solution for the upcoming dearth. Here we’re today with a threat of global economic down turn and no one knows how long it's going to take and how much it's going to impact world.
To the widow of Zerapath, she and her son were one meal between life and death. But the God of heaven is all knowing and loving and sent her Elijah with a divine solution that would save her life. God‘s wisdom was that she did not have to eat the last meal she had, but sow it. When what you have is not enough to meet your need, then it’s your seed. You can turn your bread into a seed (Eccl 11:1, Is 55:10) God gives the seed for sowing and bread for eating, but often time we fall into the trap of greed and end up eating what we had to sow. When you eat the seed, then you have lost the harvest. Your sacrifice will save your life and family in these dark days. Your answer for the future lies in that small thing you call nothing. Your last will be last if you put it into you mouth, but if you sow it into good soil, it will become your beginning! Your painful sacrifices will bring to you joyful harvests (Ps 126:6)
Tomorrow we will see ‘The cost of Discipleship’
