WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU HAVE LITTLE (OR NOTHING) TO GIVE?

This story begins when a prophet named Elijah asked a favor from a widow. 

When he arrived at the entrance of the city, a widow was there gathering sticks; he called out to her, “Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink.” - 1 Kings 17:10

The widow followed without hesitation. But as she was about to do his request, Elijah follows up with another one.

She left to get it, and he called out after her, “Please bring along a crust of bread.” - 1 Kings 17:11

Maybe that request caught the widow off guard. Maybe she stood there, frozen in her tracks and did not know how to react. The request for water was a difficult one since there was a drought at that time.  You can say that a cup of water was valuable as gold. Then Elijah asked for another favor. A piece of bread that would be worth a few silver coins for a poor widow.

Elijah was just new in town. He just met the widow. Yet he had the audacity to ask for the widow’s “gold and silver”. Were his requests a bit too much to ask? Were they too much for a widow who barely had enough?

The widow had no choice but to tell him the truth.

She said, “As the LORD, your God, lives, I have nothing baked; there is only a handful of flour in my jar and a little oil in my jug. Just now I was collecting a few sticks, to go in and prepare something for myself and my son; when we have eaten it, we shall die.” - 1 Kings 17:12

“...when we have eaten it, we shall die”. That line says it all. The widow had too little or almost nothing. In fact, she was ready to die after her last meal.

Were you ever in a situation where you felt that your resources were running out? You were like a car whose fuel gauge pointed to “E”. Empty, nothing, zero, nil, zip or zinch.

• Like when you had no work and your savings was diminishing
• Or you sold most of your assets to start a business but your partners stole your money
• Or when you tried everything your doctor recommended but your terminal sickness still cant be cured

You are running low but God wants you to give. It may not be giving bread or water. Maybe God wants you to give time, your talent or your other resources. Will you still give in to a request to help this man of God?

The widow could have said no to Elijah. She had every reason to do so. For me, she could have said “no” and I won't take it against her. She was a widow and she had limited supply. Would you blame her if she said sorry to Elijah?

This is where the story becomes interesting. She decided to follow him and grant his request. She followed because she had faith in God. She believed in what God said through Elijah.

Elijah said to her, “Do not be afraid. Go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake and bring it to me. Afterwards you can prepare something for yourself and your son. - 1 Kings 17:13

And the widow’s faith in God was rewarded. God was indeed faithful. As HE promised through Elijah, the widow and her son did not go hungry. They even had more than enough for others in the house.

For the Lord, the God of Israel, says: The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth. She left and did as Elijah had said. She had enough to eat for a long time—he and she and her household. The jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, according to the word of the LORD spoken through Elijah. - 1 Kings 17:14-16

I love how that story ended. A widow who had little or barely enough yet she was still willing to give. She held on to the promise of God and she ended up with more than enough. Its been said that faith can move mountains (Mark 11:23). In the story of Elijah and the widow, faith resulted to a blessing not only for the giver. God blessed not only the widow and her son. God blessed the whole household.

Whenever you are faced with a drought or famine, have faith that your generous God will provide.

What to do when you have almost nothing left?

Give everything to God.