FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTION

03/07/2024

“Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest” (2 Kings 4:7).

Life isn't mysterious. I can't recall the last time I experienced what others might call a "bad day." I don't say this pridefully, but it's true. Any difficulty I've faced was simply because I didn't heed God's instructions. If you've ever assembled an item from a box, you know that following the instructional manual is the easiest way to put it together. Failure to do so leads to frustration and wasted resources. Yet, I've observed many of God's people enduring unnecessary hardships that could be avoided. Saints, life can be truly glorious if we adhere to the instructional manual He has provided us with—His Word.

Saints, you must know that it's unrighteous for a child of God to experience what the world calls a "bad day." God doesn't delight in seeing us suffer like the rest of the world. We were meant to embody and demonstrate the sufficiency of God. But when we walk around in lack or as victims, we send the wrong message to the world. Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men" (Matthew 5:13). Perhaps this is why the world sometimes overlooks the church—it seems as though it has lost its essence. But not anymore! Praise God!

In these last days, the Lord is speaking to His church, urging us to follow His instructions. One clear instruction He has given concerns giving and generosity. 2 Corinthians 8:7 states, "...since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love—see that you also excel in this grace of giving." In essence, when it comes to generosity, we are to simply follow God's instruction.

In 2 Kings 4, we find the story of a widow burdened with debt through no fault of her own. She sought help from the man of God, Elisha, explaining her dire situation. His response was intriguing—he didn’t immediately raise money for her. Instead, he asked, "Tell me, what do you have in your house?" Essentially, to receive from heaven, you must release what you have in your hand. Elisha instructed her to take what she deemed insignificant and act upon it. When she followed his instructions, the little she thought she had multiplied until there was no more jar to pour into.

Verse six of that chapter indicates that the oil stopped flowing only when there were no more empty jars, symbolizing that God will continue to increase us as long as there is room for Him to pour into. And we create more room by our generosity. Solomon encapsulates this in Proverbs 11:24 (MSG): "The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller." For the widow, her financial situation changed forever simply because she followed the instruction given by God through His servant.

Once again, God's instruction to us is clear: Excel in generosity. Become fervently generous in the kingdom, allowing the world to witness God's presence in you through acts of kindness.

God bless you!

Faith-Filled Confession:

I am empowered to uplift and bless everyone within my sphere of influence, carrying the fullness of Heaven within me. I am determined not to miss any chance to make a positive impact today. I cast aside every excuse that would hinder me from giving life and hope to others. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, I am a lover, a blesser, and a lifter. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Prayer Points

• Pray that our ministry will be received by those to whom we are sent (Romans 15:30-31).

• Pray that God's people will live revived, broken, and awakened to God's will, grace, instruction, and correction in righteousness.

• Pray that God's people will live undistracted by the pleasures of this world.

• Pray that none of us will yield to the demands of the flesh and the devil.

One-Year Bible Reading Plan: Deuteronomy 3-4; Mark 11:20-33