God is not limited by your circumstances
Recession Proof • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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God is not limited by your circumstances
Recessions result in higher unemployment, lower wages and incomes, and lost opportunities more generally.
1 The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.” 2 Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” “Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.” 3 Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. 4 Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.” 5 She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. 6 When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.” But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing. 7 She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”
1 The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”
revered the Lord
9 Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing.
1 The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”
To take my two boys as his slaves
According to Hebrew law, a creditor could take the debtor and his children as servants, but he was not to treat them like slaves (Ex. 21:1–11; Lev. 25:29–31; Deut. 15:1–11). It would be heartbreaking for this woman to lose her husband to death and her two sons to servitude, but God is the “judge of the widows” (Deut. 10:18; Pss. 68:5; 146:9) and He sent Elisha to help her.
I. Recognizing the Reality of Recession (2 Kings 4:1)
A. Acknowledging the widow's dire situation
B. Drawing parallels to the economic challenges faced during a recession
C. Emphasizing the importance of acknowledging and accepting the reality of financial struggles
1. Having faith often doesn’t make sense and often makes us uncomfortable.
According to OT law, this kind of slavery is allowed, for 6 years. On the seventh year, the slaves are to be set free. But by that time, the sons will be grown. How will the woman survive for that long - when her children are gone from her.
Sleepless night turns to exhausting day to sleepless night. As she lies awake on her bed in the dark - she racks her brain for any other solution … but there is none.
2 Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” “Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.”
God often begins with what we already have. Moses had a rod in his hand, and God used that to accomplish great things (Ex. 4:2). Peter and his partners had fishing nets in their hands (Luke 5), and the lad had a few loaves and fishes (John 6). All that the poor widow had was a little oil in a vessel, but “little is much when God is in it.” Most of her neighbors would have unused empty vessels sitting around, so she wasn’t robbing anybody by borrowing them, and once she had sold the oil, she could return the vessels. Elisha instructed her to shut the door so that nobody would see that a miracle was occurring in her house, and no doubt she warned her sons to keep quiet. The amount of oil she received was limited by the number of vessels she had, and that was controlled by her faith. (See also 13:10–19.) “According to your faith let it be to you” (Matt. 9:29, NKJV). When she sold the oil, she had enough money to pay off the debt and maintain herself and her two sons.
The Lord doesn’t always perform miracles of this kind to help us pay our debts, but He does meet our needs if we trust and obey. If we give everything to Him, He can make a little go a long way. This miracle also reminds us of the greatest miracle of all, the gracious forgiveness of our debts to the Lord through faith in Jesus Christ (Luke 7:36–50; Eph. 1:7; Col. 2:13). It didn’t cost Elisha anything for God to provide the needed money to pay the debt, but it cost Jesus Christ His life to be able forgive us our sins.
II. Seeking Help and Guidance (2 Kings 4:2) A. The widow's decision to seek help from Elisha B. Encouraging individuals to seek assistance and advice during difficult economic times C. Highlighting the significance of humility in seeking help from others, whether through professional advice, community resources, or support networks
He took responsibility that empowered the woman to also take responsibility. He asks her two questions. The first has to do with his responsibility and the second with hers. He asks her what she wants him to do for her and then he asks her what she has in her house. These are two important questions to ask ourselves. What can I do for a someone, and what can that person do for him or herself? If we really want to help people, we have to take responsibility for some things and refuse to take responsibility for other things, so that the person may be empowered. Too many people just ask the first or just ask the second question. If you ask only the first question, you create dependency. If you ask only the second question, you walk by the need of your fellow (wo)man. So, lets sharpen the focus and take a closer look at what this passage can teach us…
3 Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few.
2. Having faith DOES NOT mean we should sit around and wait for God to do all of the work.
III. Utilizing Available Resources (2 Kings 4:3-4) A. Elisha's instruction to the widow to gather empty jars
B. Emphasizing the importance of utilizing the resources at hand, no matter how limited they may seem
C. Encouraging creativity and resourcefulness in finding alternative solutions to financial challenges
4 Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”
5 She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring.
IV. Stepping Out in Faith (2 Kings 4:5-6) A. The widow's obedience in pouring the oil into the jars B. Discussing the significance of faith and trust in God's provision during times of scarcity C. Encouraging individuals to take bold steps of faith, even when circumstances seem hopeless
Ill: Skee-ball tickets /
6 When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.” But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing.
7 She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”
V. Experiencing Abundance Through God's Provision (2 Kings 4:7) A. The miraculous multiplication of oil, providing more than enough to meet the widow's needs B. Highlighting the transformative power of God's provision in the midst of scarcity C. Encouraging gratitude and praise for God's faithfulness in providing abundantly beyond what we could ask or imagine
Ask and you you shall receive. “We have not because we ask not.” (James 4:2)
God is not limited by your circumstances
God wants to involve others, and it is about more than just you and your needs.
Listen to God, not to your fears.