Scripture Focus (2 Kings 4:1-7) – “Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” [2] And Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me; what have you in the house?” And she said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” [3] Then he said, “Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few. [4] Then go in and shut the door behind yourself and your sons and pour into all these vessels. And when one is full, set it aside.” [5] So she went from him and shut the door behind herself and her sons. And as she poured they brought the vessels to her. [6] When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another.” Then the oil stopped flowing. [7] She came and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”
I. When The Blade of Difficulty Cuts You (2 Kings 4:1)
“Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.”
There are several important things to note in verse 1:
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- The woman’s husband was a God-fearing, faithful servant of God
- The woman’s husband struggled in finances and was in debt
- The woman’s husband died unexpectedly
- The woman could not pay off her husband’s debts
- The woman’s children were to be taken as slaves to pay off the debt
In those ancient times, this woman likely had very little input into the household finances. She and her husband sought to honor the Lord, but somehow failed to experience blessing on their finances. She inherited the full weight of the problem when her husband died, and now she needed a miraculous provision from God in order to keep her children from being sold into slavery to pay off her deceased husband’s debts.
Christians must intentionally align with what Scripture teaches about how we steward our finances. God pledges to bless and prosper us as we honor Him with what He has entrusted to us. All our legitimate needs will be supplied. When we fail to honor God, we will experience difficulty in our finances that usually hinder other places in our lives. Even when we have failed Him in the area of our finances, He will come to our aid if we repent and commit our resources to Him as we move forward.
II. When The Voice of Hope Speaks To You (2 Kings 4:2)
A. God’s spokesman offered possibility (2 Kings 4:2a) – “And Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you?”
Having nowhere to turn, the woman sought out her husband’s mentor, Elisha, the prophet of Israel. She denied her pride, her embarrassment, and even the need to protect the testimony of her recently deceased husband. She went to Elisha in desperation to see if the man who represented God to her might have a means whereby to help. Elisha spoke words of hope when he began to offer her assistance.
Often, Christians compound their financial problems by operating in pride. Instead of seeking godly counsel, they look to the world and inevitably end up borrowing more, further compounding the problem. If Christians will admit their failures and seek the help of God, they may hear Him reply to them, “How can I help you now that you are seeking My ways with
your money?”
B. God’s way faces reality (2 Kings 4:2b) – “Tell me; what have you in the house?”
The troubled widow was asked a direct question by the prophet. In essence, Elisha was beginning to bring to her the miraculous help she needed, but the breakthrough would require her full participation. The first step was to address any possible means that she presently had to offer into the process. God often brings breakthrough by requiring us to assess and release what is in the power of our hands.
C. God’s plan confronts improbability (2 Kings 4:2c) – “And she said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.”
Note that this miracle of financial provision was going to be taking place in the life of a woman who literally had nothing beyond a place of shelter and one last meal. God, through Elisha was calling her to release the one thing she might have held on to as an object of her trust. Often, it is only rich people who are accused of being greedy. Yet, it is possible for those who have very little to cling to it, refusing to share or let go of the little they have. This woman was going to be asked to release in faith the last that she had.
2 Corinthians 8:12 – “For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.”
Exodus 4:1-3 – “Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you.’” [2] The LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” [3] And he said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it.”
Proverbs 3:27 – “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.”
III. When Steps of Obedience Are Communicated to You (2 Kings 4:3-4)
A. Initiative (2 Kings 4:3a) – “Then he said, “Go outside…”
Christians can pray all they want over their personal finances, but breakthrough and prosperity come most often through the Christian taking the initiative to “go outside” of what they have previously done with the stewarding of their finances. God requires us to take the initiative to step into fuller trust and commitment as it pertains to how we manage our money in ways that honor Him. Financial blessings most often come to us in the realm of our obedience – and obeying God is not a matter of us merely praying about it…it is a matter of us doing what is required.
B. Humility (2 Kings 4:3b) – “…borrow vessels from all your neighbors…”
This dear lady had to ask for help. We must not over-spiritualize matters and assume that God will sovereignly meet our desperate needs in ways that do not involve human help. There are people in the Kingdom who are trained, anointed, and eager in their spirits to bless others by helping to meet needs. If pride keeps us from acknowledging our needs to others, then we may be limiting God in how He can bring us relief. She had to go to her neighbors and ask for bowls/jars. That was what was commanded of her by Elisha.
C. Expectation (2 Kings 4:3c) – “…empty vessels and not too few.”
Elisha was a man who discerned the ways and heart of His God. When he told her to work hard and bring as many empty vessels as she possibly could, it was because he knew that God was going to powerfully provide for this widow. Sometimes, we limit God via an orphan spirit which communicates to us not to expect too much from the Father. Elisha was elevating her expectation that what God would soon do could not be contained in her potentially meager preparation. In our day, Elisha might have told her, “GO BIG OR GO HOME!”
D. Faith (2 Kings 4:4) – “Then go in and shut the door behind yourself and your sons, and pour into all these vessels. And when one is full, set it aside.”
“It’s what you sow that multiplies, not what you keep in the barn.” – Adrian Rogers
None of what they were being commanded by Elisha to do made sense in the natural. To release the little they had would require precise faith. When they did so, they were promised that there would be a repeated replenishing of all they were pouring out.
This principle is restated by the apostle Paul in the New Testament:
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 – “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”
IV. When the Time For Action Finds You (2 Kings 4:5-7)
A. We must enter into the process via obedience (2 Kings 4:5-6a) – “So she went from him and shut the door behind herself and her sons. And as she poured they brought the vessels to her. 6 When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.”
Again, practical steps were commanded of her in order to experience the miraculous provision. Also noteworthy is the fact that she was to get her two sons involved. Parents do well to ensure that their children learn about God’s ways in finance at a young age. What she and her sons were pouring out was going to save them from poverty and enslavement.
“Bring me another vessel” is a phrase that communicates the Kingdom truth that God is able to accomplish exceeding, abundantly above all that we ask or think (see Ephesians 3:20). What began as hopeless became possible. What was possible then became actual. What was actual then became abundant. We should carry this expectation from God in our hearts as we trust and obey His ways.
B. God will honor the process via love (2 Kings 4:6b-7) – “And he said to her, “There is not another.” Then the oil stopped flowing. 7 She came and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”
Ephesians 4:19 – “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
Proverbs 3:9-10 – “Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.”
V. When the Need to Commit Calls You
“The early church was married to poverty, prisons, and persecutions. Today the church is married to prosperity, personality, and popularity.” – Leonard Ravenhill
“God prospers me not to raise my standard of living, but to raise my standard of giving.” – Randy Alcorn
Proverbs 10:22 – “The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.”
Deuteronomy 8:18 – “You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth…”
Luke 16:11– “If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?”
Proverbs 23:4-5 – “Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. [5] When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.”
1 Timothy 6:9-10 – “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. [10] For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”
Luke 12:15 – “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
2 Corinthians 9:8-11 – “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. [9] As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” [10] He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. [11] You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.”
1 Timothy 6:17-19 – “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. [18] They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, [19] thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.”