Go for Broke

Would you give up part of your last meal to a stranger?

I can't say that I would. Generosity is not always one of my strong points. Oh, I can be generous when I feel like I have a lot to spare, but when I feel my resources dwindling I tend to shut down on sharing.

That's why I was so amazed to read the story of the widow at Zarephath in 1 Kings 17. There we find a woman, a widow, living in the middle of a drought, with only enough food for one more meal for her and her son. That meal is all that stands between her family and death.

Along comes a stranger, Elijah, who not only asks her for water, but also for food. She explains how little she has. Elijah assures her that her food will not run out, that the Lord has promised that "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." (1 Kings 17:14)

I'm not sure that I would be filled with faith at a moment like that. The widow had a son to feed, and there was barely enough for the two of them. Yet "she went away and did as Elijah had told her." (1 Kings 17:15)

Afterward, "there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah." (1 Kings 17:15-16)

What if the widow had said no to Elijah? It would be understandable to not share your last meal with a stranger. Had she said no, she would have had one meal. But she said yes, and instead of just one meal, she had an abundance of food, enough for Elijah and her family for some time. This seems like a perfect picture of our loving God, who blesses more abundantly than we can imagine when we let go and say "yes."

Lord, reading about this widow humbles me. Please help me to overcome my lack of generosity. Help me to recognize those in need and to share willingly with them. Thank you for your abundant love and provision.