Giving to the LORD inTimes of Famine

1 Kings 17:7-16

1 Kings 17:13-16 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. 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.’” 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. 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. 

In His Word, the LORD has directed us to be givers of what He has blessed us with.

Malachi 3.10

Matthew 6.33

God taking care of our needs if we give to Him, if we seek His Kingdom.

Oswald Smith and Faith Promise

"How God taught me to give" tract

Nana and the second part of the verse back in 1974. The promise.

It is noteworthy that times of abundance and times of scarcity are both fraught with temptations and challenges.

When we have much we can forget about where the blessings came from.

Grandfather at the pool with grandkids this week, "Trust me. I will not let you go. I will hold you. You will be safe in my arms."

So how about it? Does God exempt His people from giving when facing scarcity? Should our giving to the LORD be influenced by difficult economic times? What does His Word say?

1. Famines come to everyone.

Personal

There are times when through no fault of our own we find ourselves in want. I am not talking about irresponsible credit card use. If you have a problem you need to get help. I am not taking about the lack of planning. I am talking about when we live within a budget and have our finances in order and we find ourselves facing a famine. It happens.

Elijah was a man of God, yet the brook in the Kerith Ravine dried up. Sometimes the income sources dry up. Not from overspending but in our daily lives... Give us this day our daily bread...

Man's extremity is God's opportunity.

A widow in Biblical times was the epitome of destitution.  There were no life insurance policies, no pensions, no 401Ks, no Social Security. They were often at the mercy of people of compassion, particularly if they had  no extended family and young children of their own.

Zarephath means a smelting pot, a place of fiery trials.  2 Timothy 3:12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, It was a Baptism of Fire.

This was going to be baptism by fire for the widow. Elijah was being hunted and now the brook has dried up so it would be one for him as well. 

About this widow of Zarephath...

She was destitute.

God through Elijah asked her to give.

It was not so he could buy a Leer Jet or a vacation home in Palm Springs or so that he could dress in expensive clothes.  It wasn't so he could build a mansion.

It was for food and water.

She gave to this man of God, and this widow was used by the LORD to preserve the mouth piece of the LORD for that time in Israel. Incredible!

There are National Famines

Usually national famines are the result of the LORD getting the nations attention. This one if I Kings was.

In National famines there is also what Amos spoke about: 

Amos 8:11 “The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign LORD, “when I will send a famine through the land—not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD. Not in it being spoken but in people hearing it.

Worldwide Joseph's time

This worldwide famine (Genesis 41) as a big part of God's plan for Joseph and Israel

2. Our Faith Is Tested During Famines

Sometimes severely. Been there.

Do we believe or not- that is the issue.  Are we trusting in the LORD and His Word or are we leaning on our own understanding.

Faith without works is dead.

This widow had faith in the power  and the Word of the LORD. This nameless lady, we know her only as the widow from Zarephath, had more faith than everyone in Israel, save 7,000 who not bowed the knee to Baal.

When the Elijah asked her for a meal her faith was on the line. She was nearly destitute. Sometimes our giving to God is like that.

Our money.

Our strength.

Our abilities.

Come back to the giving of our means. Hudson Taylor was tested like this.

The widow giving the temple offering.

Mark 12:41-44 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” 

Our giving to the LORD can take us there. What do you think happened to this widow? 

We know this:

She put in all she had to live on.

Jesus saw it.

Jesus knew it.

So it is with us. So often we look at the check book and say, "I can't give to God. I have no money left. Guess what if you don't give to Him first you never will.

3. The LORD Rewards Those Diligently Seek Him

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. 

The meal was always at the bottom of the barrel but it was there!

Elijah was a man just like us! 

When Jesus fed the 5,000 He had them gather up the leftovers. Let nothing be wasted. Sometimes God overwhelms us in our need with blessings so there are leftovers. Even in abundance we are to be frugal. 

He had faith in the LORD during the time of national famine.

All the time

Famines 

Plenty

God Will Take Care of You