Grace notes // When We Were Kings Part 2
Week 4 //Stewards of His Blessing
Written by Dillon Turner
This past Sunday our series in 2nd Kings took us to chapter 4, where we read about the Widow’s oil. This story provides a perfect illustration of how God can provide abundance in the midst of a severe drought.
As Pastor Chris described in his message, there are multiple levels of desperation and hopelessness in this story. Just like in all of the stories of God, He is faithful and provides, even in the darkest of moments. When the Widow’s husband passed, he left behind a significant amount of debt. It was customary then, for the family to assume the debts of the father after passing. This meant that the Widow’s sons would be sold into slavery in order to cover the losses of their father. Out of options, the widow approaches Elisha, desperate for a miracle. In her time of need, God provided, not only an overflow of oil to sell, but enough oil to fill every single jar the widow offered.
How amazing is the character of God? In levels upon levels of despair, God provides abundantly.
The only thing that stopped the overflow of God’s blessing for the Widow was her own capacity to carry it all. God miraculously filled every jar that the woman offered, but we’re left wondering, what if she had gathered more jars? Would the oil ever run out? The Lord provided exponentially when the widow wasn’t even expecting to receive any blessing at all. So, what would have happened if she were ready to receive even more?
“You cannot earn the favor of God but you are called to be a steward of the favor of God.” - Pastor Chris
We already have every part of God’s affection, favor and attention. We need to constantly be asking ourselves, not “Do we have it?” but, “Are we walking in it?”
Often, the ways we limit our ability to steward God’s blessing can be broken down into 3 categories: sin, self, and scarcity.
Sin is the rebellion against God and the rejection of His direction and power in our lives.
Idol of Self is the idea of preserving and hoarding our blessings to care for ourselves first.
Scarcity is the fear of never having enough, so we have to do whatever we can to protect and provide for ourselves and hold on to whatever we have.
All these things stop us from receiving the fullness of God’s blessing.
Fast forwarding a bit, I am reminded of 2 Kings chapter 13 in which a similar event takes place. Jehoash visits Elisha on his deathbed, asking about victory over the kingdom of Aram. Elisha told Jehoash to shoot arrows into the ground, and Jehoash did so three times. Elisha then asks why Jehoash only shot the ground three times, and warns Jehoash that Israel will only claim three victories over Aram because of his limited obedience. Jehoash had the fullness of the blessing of the Lord at his literal fingertips and put a limit on God’s blessing. All of this goes to remind us that we are called to prepare for the blessings of the Lord at any moment and steward them well.
Throughout this entire series in Kings we have seen time after time how ready God is to bless His people and unfortunately, how quickly the people of God are ready to limit that blessing. All of God’s attention, affection, and favor is already ours. Are we willing and ready to steward all that he wants to offer?
PROCESSING
Which limitation do you find yourself falling into most often?
If it’s sin ask yourself, where are you grieving the Holy Spirit?
If self, how can you begin to start putting others before yourself in a healthy way?
If scarcity, what do you have in your hands already? List all the areas that you have enough. Practice gratitude in thanking God for these things.
What steps can you take to prepare yourself to steward God’s blessing?
IN THE WORD
2 Kings 13:10
Ephesians 4:17-32 (Sin )
1 Corinthians 3:21-4:7 (Self)
Matthew 25:14-30 (Scarcity)