The Faith Of A Mother

Of course historically in the church we have also used this day to celebrate all mothers and more recently to celebrate all women and the role that they have to play in God’s big plan whether they have children or not

So this morning I decided that I would take a look a Biblical mother who is a good role model of living by faith

Now believe it or not there are quite a few of these women in the Bible to chose from and so this morning I want you to open up your Bible to the book of 2 Kings the 4th chapter to see which mother it is that I have chosen for today

The story is not very long so let’s read it in its entirety beginning at verse 1

Let

2 Kings 4:1–7 NIV

The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.” Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” “Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.” Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.” She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.” But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing. She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”

There’s not very much that we know about this woman other than that her husband had been a member of the company of prophets but was now dead

We don’t even know her name and the totality of her story takes up a measly 7 verses

Yet this obscure unknown woman from so long ago has a lot to teach us about living life by faith, especially when life throws an unexpected curve your way

Because, let us make no mistake, this woman’s situation was dire, the men were the bread winners and so when her husband died she was only trying to hang on long enough until her young sons were old enough to work and support their mother and give her grandchildren

But because of a debt that her husband had before he died that would not happen and now not only would she have no one to look after her and provide for her but she was going to lose the only thing that she had left, her two young boys

But this woman was a woman who lived by faith and so so when the unthinkable happens, she doesn’t change anything she continues living by faith and shows us 3 important points about living by faith in the difficult times

The first thing that this woman does is she PARTNERS with someone that she already has relationship with, someone that she already knows is a person of faith, who in this case happens to be the prophet Elijah

Now we have no way of knowing how well Elijah knew this family but that doesn’t really matter, this woman knew Elijah and she knew that he was a true man of God and that he was a person she trusted

Listen to the wisdom of Solomon from chapter 4 of Ecclessiastes

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 NIV

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-

Living by faith does not mean doing life all alone, especially when the going gets tough

Living by faith means living in community with others

This woman could have been embarrassed by her situation, that she was widowed so young or that her husband died leaving behind a debt or that she did not have the means with which to look after her own family

She could have gone into her house and shut the door and not shown her face again, or maybe even packed up the little bit that they did have and made a run for it trying to outrun her problems and her embarrassment

But the latter is exactly what so many of us do when life isn’t going as we planned it

We choose to bare that burden alone, to carry what we may perceive as shame and disgrace or embarrassment instead of allowing others to stand with us and to hold us up when we don’t have the strength to stand on our own

Some will even allow things to keep them from coming to church because, “What will people be thinking”

Let me give you a few import scriptures about this,

Galatians 6:

Galatians 6:2 NIV

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:12 NIV

Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.

Now people can’t carry your burden if you don’t seek them out and share it!

Romans 15:1-2

Romans 15:1–7 NIV

We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

And lastly,

Hebrews 10:24-25

Hebrews 10:24–25 NIV

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

And all the more!!!!!!!!!!!

The second thing that this widow did that demonstrates living by faith is that she PLEADS with God for a PLAN

By going straight to Elijah, this woman was going straight to spokesman for God

Remember that this was before Calvary opened the way for all of us to approach God for ourselves and so she went to God looking for a plan of action

Believe it or not, even in the worst moments of your life God has a plan for you and for your life

Romans 8:28 NIV

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

“In all things” not in some things or in just the good times or when it is convenient for Him

Listen to this passage again this time in its context and from The Message Bible

(The Message)

That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.

31–39 So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:

They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.

We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.

None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

You may not realize it in the midst of the storm but God has a plan for you, He ALWAYS has a plan for you so never buy into the enemy’s lie that you are alone in whatever you are facing or that God has forgotten about you because nothing could be farther from the truth

(NIV)

5b because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;

never will I forsake you.”

6 So we say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.

What can mere mortals do to me?”

So seek out God’s plan

And then the third thing she shows us is PARTICIPATE IN THAT PLAN

Don’t expect God’s plan to be simply to make everything in your life alright, but do expect God’s plan to include your participation

I’ve said this many times before but usually within the context of praying for other people, this time I say it within the context of praying for yourself

Never pray about anything where you are not willing to be a part of the answer because that’s what it means to live by faith

Elijah could have raised her husband from the dead or just as easily said to her, ‘Go over to that clump of trees over there and you will see a round stone. Move that stone and under it will be a bag full of money. It will be enough to pay the debt and take care of you and your sons until they are grown”

But not only did God have a miracle planned for this woman, His plans involved her, just like God’s plans for you involve you

It must have taken a lot of faith to go around the whole town and ask people for their empty jars

Especially when people began to question you as to what you were going to do with it

God does have a plan for you and it begins and ends with you

Don’t expect an angel to come and solve all your problems

tells us,

James 1:22 NIV

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Now of course this passage is speaking of the written Word but I think that the same thing can be said when God gives you a spoken Word that you know is from Him

This woman didn’t go home and think it over, she didn’t ask for a second opinion or what other options might be

She left Elijah and started collecting jars, once she had collected all the jars that people would loan her, she shut her door as the man of God said and started pouring

When the jars ran out, so too did the oil and so she went back and asked him, “Now what?”

His reply? “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”

Wow what a Mom. Not only was she willing to do whatever it would take to save her sons but she demonstrated for them just what it means to live by faith

In this case in the midst of overwhelming odds against them

She taught them that when all the world seems stacked up against you you can still live by faith by:

Partnering with someone else of faith that you trust

Pleading with God for His Plan to be revealed

Participating in that plan to bring about God’ purpose in your life

Let’s pray

Related Media

Related Sermons