$11 for My Grandfather’s Tractor
When I was growing up, my grandfather owned a small farm and managed a large farm. One day he told me his tractor needed to be replaced. I went to my room and got my piggy bank off the shelf and counted what was in it – $11. I took that $11 and gave it to my grandfather. My grandfather accepted my money and bought a Farmall Cub tractor. The $11 surely didn’t purchase the tractor, but it helped. It was a small tractor, but it was exactly what he needed to plow the garden, rake hay and take care of all the other jobs on a small farm. My grandfather used to always call that tractor “ours.”
A small amount offered generously is always more than enough when placed in God’s hands. In 2 Kings 4, a poor widow asked the prophet Elisha for financial assistance. Elisha told her to take inventory of her own resources, reach out to her neighbors for help and then follow his instructions (vv. 1-4). God used the widow’s small amount of oil to fill all the jars she collected from her neighbors. (vv. 5-6) Elisha told her to “sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.” (v. 7)
When Elijah died, Elisha started his years of ministry (853-798 BC). Elisha was God’s prophet to the Northern Kingdom of Israel at a time when the kings were leading the Israelites into Baal worship (2 Kings 2:1 – 8:15). Elisha performed various miracles to show the people that he was God’s prophet. In 2 Kings 4, Elisha enabled a poor widow to redeem her two sons sold into slavery. He also raised a boy from the dead (vv. 32-37). These miracles anticipated Jesus’ miracles of supplying food to feed the multitudes (Matthew 14:15-21; 15:32-38) as well as His raising the widow’s son and Jairus’ daughter from the dead (Luke 7:11-15; 8:49-55).
When we focus on what we don’t have, we risk missing out on watching God do great things with what we do have. Has God multiplied your resources in a miraculous way? Often God will use your resources with those of others to meet a need in your community.
Prayer – Lord, help me to be grateful as I faithfully share all you have given me. Amen.
2 Kings 4:2 – “Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”
By the Rev. Tommy Herndon
Images: Mick Haupt, Jen Theodore & Timothy Eberly, courtesy of Unsplash