When Little is Much

"Elisha said, 'I wonder how I can be of help. Tell me, what do you have in your house?' 'Nothing,' she said. 'Well, I do have a little oil'." (2 Kings 4: 2, The Message)

A widow approaches Elisha, the prophet, and tells him that her husband has died, leaving her with some unpaid debts. Now, the creditor is on the way to collect. Elisha tells her to take her two sons, go to the neighbors and collect all the jugs and bowls they could find. Take them home and fill each container with the oil. They filled everything until there were no more jugs available. Then Elisha says, "Go sell the oil and make good on your debts. Live, both you and your sons, on what's left." (vs. 7)

Sometimes, we are like that widow. We look at what we have, and our first response is "Nothing". Then, we look again, and we do realize we have something, but it doesn't seem like much. It may be money, possessions or talents. And, we start telling our self that God surely wouldn't want that---it's such a small amount. But, God does want it! Big or small, it's important to Him, when it's given in faith, and it's all we have. He can take something small, and bless it many times over. Out of our lack, God supplies the greatest. So much so, that it's full to overflowing!

God, take what I have, however small it may be, and bless it abundantly to supply for my needs, and to be able to bless those around me. Amen!