Daily Manna 7 September
KEY VERSE: “And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she and he, and her house, did eat many days.” – (1 Kings 17:15)
TEXT: 1 Kings 17:8-16
8 Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.” 11 And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.”
12 So she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a [a]jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.”
13 And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. 14 For thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.’ ”
15 So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah.
Read yesterday’s Daily Manna here
The almighty God, in His wisdom did not endow everyone with equal substance such that we are all self-sufficient and so do not need the assistance of others. One may have sufficiency in one item but lack in something else. Whether in our chosen endeavour or God-assigned duty, we need each other. Human existence is one of interdependence. While sufficiency is a measure of virtue, greater success is usually attained when we share our substance with others. And it is not in the quantity of our substance but the readiness and cheerfulness of sharing.
Many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, yet the person appointed to cater for him was a poor widow in want. It is God’s way and to His glory, to make use of and put honour upon the weak and foolish things of the world. The woman also needed companionship and fellowship. Though having just a handful of meal in a barrel and a little oil in a cruise, she believed the prophet’s word and did as she was commanded. She even baked a cake for him first. This widow’s faith enabled her to readily deny herself and depend upon the divine promise. This singular act of sharing her last meal, gave her a great miracle. Consequently, she and her household including the prophet had enough throughout the time of famine.
Those who rely on the promises of God and the words of His prophets make themselves recipients of His blessings (2 Chronicles 20:20b). Also, as believers, we should learn to share and not hold back our gifts, talents, skill, time, abilities and substance from God and those in need. As we give to others, we must also give to God. For sharing with others in times of famine, pestilences, earthquake and world disasters, God will in turn shower His blessings upon us. We would lack nothing and our substance will continue to be replenished.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: The secret of continuous abundance is sharing.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 101-104
Thank you for studying today’s Daily Manna – Abundance Through Sharing – by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi
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Daily Manna 7 September 2021
I’m always blessed anytime I read and/or listened to the message of the Man of God, no matter how short or long it was. May God continue to strengthen him more and more in Jesus’ name.