LIVING IN PLENTY DURING SCARCITY Pt.4

ANOTHER DIMENSION TO GIVING

After brook Cherith dried, God instructed Elijah to go meet a widow in Zarephath because He had directed her to feed him: “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food”( 1 Kings 17:9).

When Elijah met her, she was gathering stick to cook her last meal for her son and herself. This was during a severe famine. The man of God demanded of her to cook for him first. In 1 Kings 17:15-16, the bible says, "She went away and did as Elijah had told her...".

What was the reward of her obedience? The bible says, "...So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 16 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"(1 Kings 17:15-16).

I love this story though I rarely teach from it. If Elijah were to be a prophet in our time, he would have earned himself a bad press for making such demand from a widow yet he acted within the confines of God's instruction.

Giving to genuine men of God is a door opener for a flow of plenty into your life even during scarcity. Anytime I have the opportunity to give to genuine servants of God, I do it quickly.

If that widow had neglected Elijah's need, God will still provide for Elijah anyway but she may have died of hunger. Why? God doesn't joke with the welfare of those He called into the ministry. The Psalmist(35:27) says, "...Let the Lord be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant”.

If God delight in the prosperity of his servant, who are you to wish His servants poverty and penury? My little experience with some church folks shows they love to see God's servant poor and beggarly. The moment he's prospering, they assume he's no longer faithful in ministry.

Satan is teaching this generation to be stingy towards genuine men of God thereby robbing God's people of their blessings. I refuse to be in this camp. Even as a preacher, I give to those in ministry. I respect and honour genuine servants of God.

The worst deceit is to think your spiritual leader or that servant of God is not worth your giving because he has money or living a better life. We don't give to a man of God because he is poor or in need, we do it because God commanded it in scriptures.

Those who are taught the word of God( you and me) SHOULD PROVIDE FOR THEIR TEACHERS, sharing all good things with them (Galatians 6:6 NLT. Emphasis mine).

Don't short-change that preacher that is praying, counseling and teaching you God's word. Provide for his need. When he blesses you from his heart, something will be activated on your behalf.

This is another Pauline instruction: "Elders( referrring to those in five-fold ministry) who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching"(1 Timothy 5:17 NLT. Emphasis mine).

You cannot follow God's principles and be denied of what accrues from your obedience. If you truly desire a supernatural turn around in your life and finances, do as instructed in today's devotional.