Empty jars. The little house is full of them. Curved clay vessels sit stacked on benches, tables, even the earthen floor. Their round mouths gape black...wanting. The widow crouches down, holding her own meager jar of oil in arms that once cradled the two young men at her side.
The oldest puts his hand on her shoulder and finds her gaze. How much he looks like his father... The same deep, soulful brown eyes search hers with expectancy, with hope. The younger carries over an empty jar, setting it on the ground at their feet. For a moment the three look at one another, volumes of love and years of life shared in the silence. The woman takes a breath, and begins to pour...
In 2 Kings 4, the Bible tells us a story of a widow who had nothing except a little oil, and was in danger of losing her sons as payment for her husband's debts. In her distress she appealed to God through the prophet Elisha, who told her, "Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don't ask for just a few." Next, he instructed her to pour oil into all the jars (2 Kings 4:3-4).
Let's imagine for a minute that the widow was too embarrassed to ask her neighbors for the jars for fear she would be laughed at or refused. Everybody knows I have nothing, I'll look ridiculous asking for jars to hold oil I don't even have! What will people think of me?
Or what if she had been too prideful? Too lazy? Why should I have to do all that work? God could just clear all my debts in the blink of an eye if He really wanted to!
Perhaps she might have doubted God would come through for her, and rather than stepping out in faith she stepped back in disappointment. God would never do that for me...
Do you think God would have moved as powerfully if the widow had allowed herself to be paralyzed by fear? Does He anoint laziness or promote the proud? Matthew 13:58 tells us Jesus was unable to perform many miracles in his hometown due to the people's lack of faith. If the widow had lacked the faith for the miracle at hand, do you think God would still have performed it?
When God calls us to take risks for Him, to pursue something that seems out of our reach, it can be easy to lose ourselves to fear, laziness, pride, or doubt. Rather than risking selflessly, we run selfishly.
But our faith is a faith in action! It is a living, breathing faith that requires our partnership with God. Our key verse tells us He is able to do far more than anything we could ask for—things beyond our wildest dreams!—but if we want Him to work through us, we actually have to do something!
Just as the widow collected the empty jars, so we must make faith-spaces in our lives for God to fill with His power. Maybe God is asking you to commit to serving in an area at your church, or to take a risk by pursuing your dream. Or perhaps He's simply asking you to persevere, to keep putting one foot in front of the other on the path of day-to-day life. Whatever the task, our job is to do what we can—what He's calling us to do—and trust Him for the increase!
Reflection Questions
- What fears do you have that keep you from taking risks for God? Meditate on 2 Timothy 1:6-7, asking God to remove your fears and replace them with His Spirit.
- How can you humbly lean on God's power instead of your own, trusting Him for the increase in different areas of your life—in marriage, parenting, your career, or your calling?
- What is one thing you can do this week to create some faith-space in your life for God to fill?