Risk it all, or conserve what's left? Such was the dilemma for a widow and her son with extremely limited resources.
"when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks; and he called to her and said, 'Please get me a little water in a jar, that I may drink.' As she was going to get it, he called to her and said, 'Please bring me a piece of bred in your hand.' But she said, 'As the LORD your God lives, I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar; and behold, i am gathering a few sticks that I may go in and prepare for me and my son, that we may eat it and die.'" (1 Kings 17:10-12)
Amidst a desperate situation, Elijah the prophet extended an extraordinary challenge: "Do not fear; go, do as you have said, but make me a little bread cake from it first and bring it out to me, and afterward you may make one for yourself and for your son. For thus says the LORD God of Israel, ' the bowl of flower shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day the LORD sends rain on the face of the earth.'" (1 Kings 17:13).
This same challenge is extended to each of us: "whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." (Matthew 16:25). Conserve what little we have of our lives, or sow it in faith and service - this is our Master's challenge to us.
Serving the King and the kingdom is worth the risk. It's certainly not the path to fame and prosperity, but it is ultimately the way to make our lives count. The scope of our influence is greatly multiplied when we risk losing our lives for the King and the kingdom. We are brought near to many who are hungry for life-changing truth. Our lives are extended like a seed planted in the ground that becomes a fruit-bearing stalk or tree.
Life is full of risks. A wise person carefully calculates before taking a risky step, but then boldly moves ahead having done so. We do well to count the cost of kingdom investment, but then to forge ahead in faith and confidence having done so.
May the risk of kingdom service today bring a sense of fulfilling adventure to your life.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2011
"when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks; and he called to her and said, 'Please get me a little water in a jar, that I may drink.' As she was going to get it, he called to her and said, 'Please bring me a piece of bred in your hand.' But she said, 'As the LORD your God lives, I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar; and behold, i am gathering a few sticks that I may go in and prepare for me and my son, that we may eat it and die.'" (1 Kings 17:10-12)
Amidst a desperate situation, Elijah the prophet extended an extraordinary challenge: "Do not fear; go, do as you have said, but make me a little bread cake from it first and bring it out to me, and afterward you may make one for yourself and for your son. For thus says the LORD God of Israel, ' the bowl of flower shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day the LORD sends rain on the face of the earth.'" (1 Kings 17:13).
This same challenge is extended to each of us: "whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." (Matthew 16:25). Conserve what little we have of our lives, or sow it in faith and service - this is our Master's challenge to us.
Serving the King and the kingdom is worth the risk. It's certainly not the path to fame and prosperity, but it is ultimately the way to make our lives count. The scope of our influence is greatly multiplied when we risk losing our lives for the King and the kingdom. We are brought near to many who are hungry for life-changing truth. Our lives are extended like a seed planted in the ground that becomes a fruit-bearing stalk or tree.
Life is full of risks. A wise person carefully calculates before taking a risky step, but then boldly moves ahead having done so. We do well to count the cost of kingdom investment, but then to forge ahead in faith and confidence having done so.
May the risk of kingdom service today bring a sense of fulfilling adventure to your life.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2011
posted by steve @ 10:57 AM
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