1 Kings 17.8-16 & 2 Kings 4.1-4

As we often find, incidents about Elijah and Elisha share common details. The Lord, the author of all scripture, is teaching us of His ways. These common details are not coincidences; they are divine reinforcing of lessons for us. As Joseph said to Pharaoh: ‘the thing is fixed by God’ (Gen 41.23).

God sent Elijah to Zarephath, near Sidon; an area occupied by Gentiles. We read a quaint scene of a widow gathering sticks for her final meal.  The current famine in the region guaranteed the sad inevitability of imminent death. All she had was the tiny provision of bread and flour and oil. As scripture often records, there was great need and insufficient resources.

Elijah commanded faith and obedience, that the widow put him first. ‘Elijah’ meaning ‘the Lord is God.’ His words were direct; ‘will you trust God in this situation?’ She faced sacrifice and risk, whether she obeyed or not!

The command came with a promise of abundance, v14. She obeyed. God provided!

‘There was always enough’

The second incident is set in a different context, of a widow amongst the community of the prophets. She was threatened with debt, rather than death. All she had was a flask of olive oil. Again, there was great need and insufficient resources

A different command, this time to ‘borrow vessels’ from her neighbours. This involved a commitment and risk, perhaps even looking foolish. I imagine the widow thinking; ‘I am borrowing many empty bottles; without a miracle they stay empty, and I feel foolish!’

There was a command and a promise. She obeyed. God provided! Although there was a different technique, there was similar abundance – ‘Every contained was full to the brim’

The lesson is clear and obvious. The result of simple faith was multiplied blessings; and such abundance was a sign of God’s grace. In these instances, a total trust in God that He would provide what was needed.

God loves faith. Our faith can open up great blessings.

We have to be blunt. A lot of our problems arise because of the choices we make. (Not all, as some are as a result of circumstances; others as a result of the choices of others.)

Choices are related to priorities. We choose what we consider to be important. We choose to neglect those things which are less important. The effects of godly priorities and wise choices can be massive.

It was “when kings (usually) go out to war” that King David found himself in Jerusalem, and saw Bathsheba bathing. This circumstance led to his decision to commit adultery, then murder. His son Absalom usurped the throne, forcing David to flee for his life. David had made bad choices; he was responsible for these choices. And he personally bore their consequences.

Some years later, Solomon took 13 years to build his palace, having taken a mere 7 years to build the temple of the Lord. The Old Testament places these two numbers in successive verses; 1 Kings 6.38 & 7.1. Just reading these verses together indicates a wrong priority. It took some time, but his priorities subsequently bore bitter fruit, as his heart was turned from God, and his son Rehoboam was ill-prepared for the conflicts which arose after Solomon had died.

In John 2, Jesus Christ entered the temple, driving out those who bought and sold, overturning their tables. He cried out (v16) “Do not make my Father’s house a home of merchandise!” There is nothing inherently wrong with buying and selling. The problem was one of priority – it was not the place for it.

In the parable of the sower, the seed sown among weeds because choked by them. Such is the effect of bad choices and wrong priorities. The seed of God, planted in our hearts, becomes smothered and unfruitful.

The fruit of the Spirit is self-control. Self-control includes having right priorities and making good choices.

‘By Christian perfection,

I mean (1) loving God with all our heart. Do you object to this?

I mean (2) a heart and life devoted to God. Do you desire less?

I mean (3) regaining the whole image of God. What objection to this?

I mean (4) having all the mind that was in Christ. Is this going too far?

I mean (5) walking uniformly as Christ walked. And this surely no Christian will object to.

If anyone means anything more or anything else by perfection, I have no concern with it. But if this is wrong, yet what need of this heat about it, this violence, I had almost said, fury of opposition, carried so far as even not to lay out anything with this man, or that woman, who professes it?’

(John Wesley’s Journal, June 1769)

(This was not all he said on the subject, as one of his 44 Sermons addressed the issue. But if we are going to join this same debate 250 years on, we should look at the original sources if possible.)