II Kings4:3 Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few.

Isn’t it frustrating to try to help someone who has come to you for assistance, but then either won’t do what you suggest, or just expends a minimal effort? Elisha had come upon a widow who was about to lose everything. She did have a small jar of oil. Elisha told her to go borrow jars - a lot of jars, not just a few. Upon gathering these jars Elisha told her to fill each empty jar from her small jar of oil. Miraculously, it worked! When she came to the end of the jars, the oil ran out. She was able to sell the oil and live off the proceeds. She was amazed at how God worked!

We often come to God with our problems. Do we come prepared for a solution? When the widow came to Elisha, it wasn’t her idea to get the jars. Too often, I think, we come to God with our own ‘solution’ and expect Him to enact it. What if I gathered the ‘empty jars’ of my time and committed to regular, weekly church attendance? Not ‘just a few’ times in the course of a year. We might be amazed at how God works in our life!

What if I opened a Bible and read it, listening for God’s Word? I don’t mean ‘just a few’ times, but daily. Not ‘just a few’ seconds, reading a verse of the day, but an investment in reading and listening. We might be amazed at how God works in our life!

What if, before I checked my social media in the morning, I prayed and asked God to direct and fill me? I don’t mean ‘just a few’ seconds, but a real conversation.

The widow’s desperation was measured by how many jars she brought. Her answer from God was also measured by how many jars she brought. Our desire to connect with and know God, to see Him work in our lives will also be measured by how many ‘jars’ we bring. Don’t bring ‘just a few’!

Blessings,

Pastor Russ