DAY 11: Sharing

Nothing To Give? Think Again.

1 Kings 17:1-16

The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning…


God sent Elijah into the wilderness with nothing more than birds to deliver food and a small stream to provide water. But how much food can a bird carry while flying? How much water can you get from an almost dry stream. It doesn't look good for God's servant, Elijah!

Then things seem to go from bad to worse for Elijah. God sends him to a town where he is unwelcome because of his religious beliefs.

At the town's entrance, the hungry Elijah meets a woman, a poor and starving widow with a son to feed. The widow has suffered poverty and hunger for so long that she has prepared herself and her son to finish off their last handful of food and die that very day.

To the widow Elijah says, "Go make me some bread and bring me some water." It seems like an unreasonable request of her, but to this he adds a promise that God will feed the widow and her son. The widow cooks what little food she has left and feeds Elijah. Then, mysteriously, she and her son find that God has provided them with food to go on living.

Yes, mysterious things happen when you give to strangers or share with someone in need. Amazing things can happen because the Spirit of God is at work in you and through what you do each day.


Who do I know or have met that I consider to have "next to nothing" in life. What do they have to give? What do they need?


Prayer:
Loving God, help me to give unselfishly to others, especially to people who are experiencing hunger and poverty. Amen


Action step:
What belongings seem extra valuable to you and would be difficult to give up? If you are able, choose one of those items and give it away to someone who could use it more than yourself. Or, sell the item and donate the money to the Youth Challenge² hunger fund, a hunger relief program, someone you know who is in need, or a stranger in need on the street.

contributed by Rod Boriack