Greetings again my Brethren. Of all of the characters with no names Jesus and others use to teach us deep spiritual truths is the widow. I always like how the Bible talks about “a certain man” which could be me used 97 times, most often in Luke, in the Bible (like Luke 10:30 and Luke 20:9) or “one came running” (Mark 10:17), which could be me or you running after something. After all James tells us, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27) In the Old Testament, in 1 Kings we read a story most prosperity preachers like to share to show God’s ability to provide for His people. We read, “And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, 9Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. 16And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah. (1 Kings 8-9, 16) Now do not get me wrong here God does provide for His children and this story is a perfect example how God can provide, even through miraculous ways, but He provides because of our obedience. Elijah and the widow lady both did that which God wanted them to do. Often when God does not move on our behalf and we do not understand why, we better check our obedience. Now I cut out some of the story (not that it is not worth reading and recommend you go back and read the story for yourself) to save more writing space in the article. The lesson to be learned from this story is not so much God’s provisions, but our need to be obedient to God to make it happen. After all God knows how to take care of His children. Right? Another story about a widow and I guess my favorite story from Jesus about a widow is found in Mark. Mark writes, “And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. 42And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. 43And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 44For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.” (Mark 12 :41-44) I would call this my favorite, because I believe this story exposes the heart of God for His children in our giving. Remember, at the heart of the Gospel is giving. “For God so loved the world He gave . . . .” Now please do not tell me how God is blessing you (or making you happy) where you are highly favoured and anointed of God and you not give of yourself or your resources. If you know me, one thing you will know is I am not a prosperity teacher, teaching us giving to God so we can get from God: 10, 50, or 100, fold. Oh no, we give to God so that others may be able to receive from God. If this is not your heart condition of giving then you are selfish and know not God. I would put most Christians in this category where God is a big sugar daddy and all we have to do is throw $10 at Him and He will peel out $100. No where in the Bible is this heresy taught, but it is preached 24 hours a day on Christian TV, social media sights, YouTube, the list goes on and on. The late Oral Roberts and others in the late 50s started the teaching of planting a “seed” in his ministry and God will return your “seed” 30, 60, or 100 fold. Well, before too long he had enough money to build a Bible School, Oral Roberts University, and plant this lie in the heart of millions and the ministry of thousands, working not by God’s faith and graces, but by the greed of the people. Now will God give back to you? Yes, by all means. But, the return on the investment (your money) is not what Oral Roberts taught. This principle from the parable of the sower is Matthew 13:1-10. The same parable recorded in Mark says the “seed” was the Word of God not money. “And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?14The sower soweth the word.” (Mark 4:13-14) My friend you cannot substitute money for the Word of God and expect an increase of 30, 60, or 100 fold of money. Anyway as we give we shall be given back. In Luke Jesus said, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” (Luke 6:38) Now most Christians stop reading after the word “bosom,” but if you keep on reading you will hear of the return on your investment, “For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” My friend always remember God gets to reward our giving and at best we get back what we gave. The widow lady who gave two mites at best was due two mites back, but giving mites was not the message of this story, oh no. The message of the story was not what she gave, but how she gave. God is not really so concerned about what we do as much as He is how we do them. The widow lady gave all she had. You know it is easy to give $10,000 when you are a millionaire. But if all you have is two mites to your name and you give it well, God sees the heart and rewards accordingly. What did the widow lady get back, riches untold.
Next month we will continue to look at other diverse objects God can use to communicate with us as we look at how God used a discouraged prophet. Are you there my friend? In tough situations and circumstances? Have you heard His voice? Listen closely and you will. Written by David Stahl
