I Kings 17:13
“for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be exhausted and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain upon the face of the earth.’ ”
The Lord directed Elijah to a widow for lodging and sustenance. She said she didn’t have enough to share. In fact she said that she was preparing the last meal for her and her son, before they starved to death. Today’s passage is God’s answer to her.
She was willing share, but had nothing. She volunteered to get water. God is telling her that if she shares this last meal and is willing to take Elijah in, she will not want for food as long as the famine lasts.
He promises to miraculously keep the jar of flour full, as well as the jug of oil. This reminds me of the feeding of the 5,000 with Jesus and His disciples. The fish and the bread kept coming.
God promises to provide for His children. Not that we aren’t to work for living. He wants us to. That’s an important part of life. But there is much we worry about. Jesus says in Matthew 6:26, “Look at the birds of the sky, that they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather crops into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more important than they?” We all worry and work towards a solution. Someone once said, “We are to do our best and commit the rest.” Worry seems to permeate us. That isn’t to be so. We are to take Jesus’ words to heart and not worry.
We are to do our best at our jobs and love people on the way. We aren’t to see them as obstacles or competitors. Even though they may act that way. Their actions may be the reason we are worried. We feel we won’t get our piece of the pie, as they are taking it. The same advice persists, “Do our best and commit the rest.” He will work it out and give us the share that is best for us. It may be the portion we wanted would have been bad for us. He knows us and what’s best.
This is a great witness to our coworker. They won’t understand our attitude. They’ve been competing their entire lives and they know how people respond to that. We pray for them and wish them well. God works through those circumstances and draws them to Him. Sometimes they respond, sometimes not.
Jesus sums it up even better a few verses later, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you”, (v. 33). How do we do that? The same as was described, to do your best at whatever you do and love God and others. The key is not to worry. We’ve given it to Him to sort out and we are following Him and trusting Him.
His will isn’t religious acts. It’s a relationship. It’s like a company that advertises, “Under New Management.” Products are still sold, workers are working and getting paid, but there is a difference. So, with the christian. We’ve given Him lordship of our lives and now look to Him. Proverbs 3:5,5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” We acknowledge Him. We pray at the beginning of our day and ask Him to guide. He will guide and influence circumstances without our knowledge. Other times He’ll whisper to us do something or not do something. We learn to do it.
Lord, thank You for Your miraculous provision. We probably don’t see most of the cool things You do. Thank You for the known and unknown. Teach us to trust and not to worry.