Precarious

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:

8 Then the word of the Lord came to him: 9 “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” 10 So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.”

12 “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”

13 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’”

15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah. (1 Kings 17:8-16, NIV)

REFLECTIONS:

Precarious—life is sometimes so very precarious. At times, we, like this widow, have little left in the cupboard of our lives. We swing the doors wide open, searching the highest shelves, the deepest corners, and find only the smallest portion available. What do we do? The widow of Zarephath chooses to use what little she has to feed herself and her son. But she will not prepare it to sustain life; she will make the meal in preparation for death.

The widow goes to gather sticks, just as she does every day. This is the first item needed to make the meal: sticks. She leaves her home and son and heads to the city gates, probably a path she has traveled many times. But this time, she finds more than sticks. She finds a man asking for life and responds to his request with words to this effect: "How can I give you life, when I am preparing to die?"

Elijah's simple words offer her a new option. "Don't be afraid. Go home and prepare your meal, but serve me first—before yourself and your son. In doing this, you will not die. Instead, you will live."

The widow could have stayed home. She could have given in to despair and waited for death. Instead, she performs the common, ordinary task of her every day. She follows her daily practice of gathering sticks—from this she receives life.

What do we do when life becomes precarious? Do we have a well-worn path of daily practice to follow? Do we leave everything behind and go in search of "sticks"? If so, surprised by God, are we willing to serve God first, even in our place of despair? Do we see our survival in seeking and serving God?

Hear the words of God: "Do not be afraid… my provision for you will not fail."

PRAYER:

Lord of Life, your word declares that you have prepared a table before me. Thank you for your abounding generosity and your enduring mercies. Lead me, by your grace, to the table to feast with you there.

WHO AM I?

I am Tres Sansom, and I was deeply challenged by all that took place at yesterday's worship gathering. Everything from Jennifer's message regarding finances, the ongoing video series we've been watching about generous living, and Chris Kirby's message recounting God's rescuing grace. In his kindness and grace, God has been calling me to a deeper level of faith—a faith that will trust him when it looks like all is lost.

Kate and I each have multiple jobs and yet we live on a shoestring budget. We are stretched extremely thin financially. We have no savings. We are up to our eyeballs in debt. We have virtually no "free money" with which to do fun things. We live very frugally and still watch our money disappear each month at lightning speed. I am all too painfully familiar with the temptation to hold back our tithes and offerings. I think of all the ways that we could spend the $350 or so dollars we give on a monthly basis—all the debts we could be slowly paying off, all the things we could purchase for our house, all the things we could afford to do with our children.

And yet, I hear God's call to give and to serve. I read the biblical stories, such as today's passage, that demonstrate God's faithfulness and generosity. I look back over my life and see the ways that God has demonstrated his kindness and his mercy to me personally. I recount the ways that he has faithfully and graciously led me through precarious times of fear and doubt and sorrow and suffering. I remember his goodness and his mercy. I remember his steadfast companionship. And I choose to walk in faith. And I stand before you to declare that to this day, God's provision has not failed.