Daily Devotionals

Dead End Desperation Week 4: Wednesday

So she did as she was told. Her sons kept bringing jars to her, and she filled one after another. 6 Soon every container was full to the brim! “Bring me another jar,” she said to one of her sons. “There aren’t any more!” he told her. And then the olive oil stopped flowing. 2 Kings 4:5-6

Have you heard the saying, “a little bit goes a long way?” I think of this saying most often in terms of cooking. Whether cooking with red pepper flakes, or salt, I have learned that a little bit of these spices can have a lasting impact. But, on a much larger scale, God can do a lot with the little bit we have when we obey Him and give ourselves to Him. 

The widow in 2 Kings 4 indeed found out what Elisha already knew: God can take the little with what we have and perform a miracle. She had come to Elisha in a desperate situation. Her husband had died, and she was in a desperate financial situation. All she had in her home was a flask of olive oil (verse 2). Elisha then gave her a strange request. He told her to go to her friends and neighbors and borrow as many empty jars as she could from her neighbors and friends and to pour her olive oil into the jars (verse 4). Now, to anyone observing this situation, this would seem strange. After all, a flask of olive oil could not even fill one jar. And yet, this widow trusted Elisha and did what she was asked to do. Her two sons brought jar after jar to her, and she filled each one up, one by one, with her little flask of olive oil until each jar was filled (verses 5-6). When she asked her sons for another jar, her sons informed her that no jars were left (verse 6). At this point, the oil stopped flowing (verse 6). Can you imagine her amazement as this was happening? A miracle was happening right in front of her. God was doing a lot with the little bit that she had. Elisha told her to sell the olive oil to pay off her debts and live off the remaining money (verse 7). This was truly an extraordinary moment.

What was true for the widow in this story is true for you and me today: God can do much with the little bit we have. Do you need this reminder today? Maybe you think you do not have much to bring to God to be used by Him. You may feel like you cannot make much of a difference. But, my friend, God is in the business of performing miracles. He can take what feels like a little bit to you and move mountains. After all, He is the all-powerful God who can do far beyond what we could ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

Moving toward action

We must never underestimate what God can do with our little bit. He can take the little amount you have and do incredible things. Take a few minutes to turn to Him and give Him the little you have. Pray, asking God to take the little bit and do something big through you. Then, look for opportunities to make an impact with the little bit that you have.

Going Deeper

Ephesians 3:1-21 (NLT)

"When I think of all this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles . . . 2 assuming, by the way, that you know God gave me the special responsibility of extending his grace to you Gentiles. 3 As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me. 4 As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ. 5 God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets.

6 And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. 7 By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.

8 Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. 9 I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.

10 God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.

12 Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. 13 So please don’t lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored.

14 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen."