Unshackled Moments ~ September 13 ~ Giving The Last

There is a story in the old testament about a widow who gives to Elijah and gets an awesome return blessing. It can be found in I Kings 17, but the gist of it is that there is a drought that puts everything in short supply. The widow is out gathering sticks, and Elijah asks her for water, which she immediately starts to get for him. Then he adds a request for bread. She tells him she has none, only enough oil and flour to make a small bite for her and her son to eat as a last meal. They are starving. He tells her don't worry about starving, just make me some bread and there will be enough to make you and your son bread until the drought is over. She complied and didn't run out of flour or oil for days until it finally rained. I have heard this story used as part of tithing sermons and illustrations of giving in faith means you get stuff back. Neither of those is what this is about. This woman's gift to Elijah was not a tithe. First thing he did, which is often not mentioned, is ask for water in the midst of a drought. She never hesitates but goes to get some. This is not about tithing. It's about service. She can; so she will. There is still enough water left for her to give. Then he asked for bread, and there is not enough oil and flour for him and the last meal she planned for her and her son. In response to him telling her to go ahead and make it, that she won't run out, she does it. But the scripture says nothing of her great faith here. She didn't declare deep faith in Elijah being a man of God and speaking truth until later. At most this is about obedience more than faith. She may have had faith she wouldn't run out. Or she may have figured it didn't matter in the long run if she and her son had that last bite or not. They were still about to die either way. So why not let the prophet have the last of the oil and flour? But this is about a simple truth that what we give to God in obedience and service we get back. I'm not talking about some formula that says if you give God X he has to give back whatever. If you give to God like it's an investment in the stock market, that's not giving to God. That's trying to make God give to you. But when you give to God, for the purpose of giving to be of service, to bless and out of obedience, not worrying about when and how or even if you get a return, God blesses that. When we give love because we're told to, and it's needed. When we sacrifice our time, something way more valuable than money and something that can't be regained, in order to help someone and do what God has called us to do, He blesses our lives. And yes, when we give our resources in service to the King, not as an investment but out of understanding that they and our lives are His to use as He pleases anyway, then He, who takes care of what is His, will provide what is needed. The truth about giving is not that when we give God has to give back. It's not if you want this, do that. It's about love. It's Mom giving Dad his favorite part of the chicken before anyone else getting to fix their plates. It's about there being one popsicle in the freezer and the big brother giving it to the little brother instead of keeping it for himself. Sometimes, you discover a whole other box in the back. Sometimes it's the last treat of the summer and months before you see another one. But giving out of love like that to God and for God brings satisfaction and blessing into our lives that is way more than just whether or not we get more treats back. It's about service, which makes us more like Jesus and gives us purpose. And it's about obedience, which makes us grow.