1Kings 17:7 Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. 8 Then the word of the Lord came to him: 9 “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” NIV
A devout christian woman shared her experience with me on the price she and her husband paid for disobeying God's instruction he demanded for their money. Yes, you heard me well. God can make a demand for whatever he gives to you because you are not the owner. He is.
In the late 80s, she had an acquaintance whom God instructed to tell her to be part of their church building project. Instead of her to pray and ask God If truly he gave the message, she rejected the idea outrightly and went ahead with their building project in the village.
Herself and her husband had the money but they felt their building project should come first instead of putting the money into the church's building project as instructed by the Lord.
After that period of disobedience to God's instruction, it took them 33 years to complete their house in the village. It was a great struggle. In fact, part of the building collapsed in the course of construction. She told me that if they had known, they would have given the money to support that church building project back in the 80s.
Refusal to give that little can hinder much. There are times God makes demand for that very thing you hold dear. Not because he wants to deprive you but such demands are tests from God to know if we have become attached to the things of this world or whether we still trust him to supply our needs even if he decides to take all.
The moment you find it hard to release what is in your hands to God, it shows your heart is affixed on worldly things. God owns everything, we own nothing. We are just stewards managing God's property with us.
It wasn't easy on the part of the widow of Zarephath to give her last meal to the prophet of God during famine. If Elijah were to be a prophet in our time, he'll have gotten bad press. The news headline may read thus: "Prophets That Exploit Widows".
However, the ways of God are totally different from the ways of man. That singular act of obedience opened her up for continuous supply of provision during famine.
1Kings 17:15 says, "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. (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".
A wise man said, "Giving is the proof that you've conquered greed". When God is asking for that little in your hands, it is because greater things are coming. Obedience in matters of giving open doors. Why are you witholding what the Lord is telling you to release?
Father, I receive the grace to be a sacrificial giver in Jesus name