After a widow came to Elisha with the news that her children were about to be taken from her to settle her late husband’s debt, and Elisha determined that she didn’t have anything except a little oil (see 2 Kings 4:1-2), he replied with some instructions for her.
Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. 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.”
2 Kings 4:3-4 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/2ki.4.3-4.NIV
Once he learned what the woman had, and found that her poverty ruled out a conventional solution, note that Elisha doesn’t just offer her money to pay the creditor. I suspect that the group of prophets to which this widow’s late husband belonged might have had some funds or resources to support themselves and others like Elisha, but that’s not the approach taken here.
To be clear, I’m not saying that it’s wrong to give food, clothing, shelter, or money to someone in need. The New Testament apostles seem to have provided money and food directly to people within the church who needed it (see Acts 4:32-35, for instance).
However, in this case, the woman was going to participate in God’s provision. She was told to go out and ask for empty containers, and then fill them up from the oil jar. This required some faith. After all, can you imagine what would happen if God wasn’t at work in a situation like this? I can envision the woman (and maybe her children) going from door to door, asking to borrow empty containers, trying to explain why they needed them; then, getting them home and pouring out the oil jar into the first one, only to have it run out when the bottom of the first jar was barely covered! What would they do then? Sheepishly return the containers, one neighbor at a time, with no justification for having borrowed them in the first place?
In this light, I think that it’s good to look more closely at the mix of our work and God’s work in His plan for our lives. While He ultimately provides, He often chooses to involve us in His plan. So, we must be ready, listen for direction, and act when He tells us to.
And, when He calls us to act, let’s not just collect a few empty jars. Instead, let’s go big, and allow God “to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (see Ephesians 3:20-21).
From Sunday School lesson prepared for June 15, 2025
References:
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – 1 & 2 Kings, by Jesse C. Long, Jr. © 2002 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 