“For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!’” (1 Kings 17:14)
A former mentor of mine, Pastor C.T. Piper, to tell the story of once going to the grocery store with no money in his pocket and gathering the grocery items he and his family needed by faith. Just before reaching the checkout counter, he recalled, a lady came to him and gave him enough money to purchase everything in his cart and then some. When Pastor Piper paid for his groceries, he had enough left over to give his tithe as well. God had provided enough and then some!
When Carissa and I first married, we, too, sometimes knew what it meant for food to be scarce in our pantry. But we also quickly learned what it meant for God himself to supply our needs and to do so in abundance. I memorized Philippians 4:19 (NKJV), “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus,” andI would often pray this promise when Carissa and I faced uninvited financial hardship. As J. I. Packer said, “You will never need more than God can supply.” But God will often supply more than you need!
1 Kings 17 tells the story of the prophet Elijah asking a widow to bring him a little cup of water and a morsel of bread. When Elijah asked her, the widow responded quickly and honestly: “I swear by the Lord your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug.” (1 Kings 17:12) Poor and desperate as she was, this widow had already looked in her food pantry. She knew all she had left was just enough to share one final meal with her son and then die together with him from their hunger.
When we read this story, a lot of little things are mentioned. Elijah asked for a little water. The woman was gathering a couple of sticks. She had only a handful of flour and a little cooking in the bottom of the jug. However, little is much when God is in it!
The woman responded with her obedience, and God kept His promise. Afterward, each time the woman went to her food pantry and looked, there was flour and oil in the containers until the Lord sent rain, and the crops grew again. She gave the little she had. God gave her enough and then some!
Jesus promises that He will do the same for me and for you. In John 10:10 (NKJV), Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” The word “abundance” means “a surplus” or “more than enough.” Today, God’s gifts and provisions of abundance are not just limited to the widow in I Kings 17 or to my former mentor, Pastor C.T. Piper—they are for us as well.
As we journey together for the next fifty-two weeks, it is my prayer that God will give you an abundant supply. Just as the widow’s containers were filled with flour and oil, God will supply both your life’s physical needs and your soul’s spiritual nourishment in abundance. Our blessing, after all, isn’t only our blessing. As George Herbert once stated, “If I have but enough for myself and family, I am steward only for myself and them; If I have more (than enough), I am but a steward of that abundance for others.”
Not just recipients but stewards. God often blesses us with more than enough so that from the overflow of his abundance—“his riches in glory by Christ Jesus”—we can bless others as well.
Daily Inspiration
“Rest assured that the Lord, who daily provides for the millions of fish in the sea and the myriads of birds in the air will not suffer his own children to perish for lack of the things of this life.” (Charles H. Spurgeon)
Weekly Challenge:
What is it that you desire for God to do for you this year? Write down and pray over these requests daily. Be sure to follow up by writing down and celebrating when God answers your prayer request as well. Live expecting God’s favor in your life, God’s blessings!
Leaders’ Corner:
In pastoral ministry, Carissa and I have often been recipients of abundant blessings from others. But we also have blessed others in our giving. Is there someone you need to bless today? Consider sending them a financial gift this week. “It is more blessed to give than to receive.“
Praying Scripture:
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.” (Psalm 23:5 NKJV)
Lord, you have prepared a feast in the presence of those who are against me. You have anointed my head with oil, and my cup runs over. Please help me be a good steward of all of your blessings, including the overflow. Help me have a generous heart and give to others in need. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen!