In 2 kings 4, vs. 1-7 the story is told about the widow and her two sons. After losing her husband the creditors were now coming after her sons to used as slaves in order to settle her debt that her husband incurred. There are several factors that was already working against this widow, firstly as a widow and a female she was already disadvantaged. The means of income is threatened the loss of her husband meant her earning power is threatened by her being sole income earner. Secondly, she has dependents, two boys are depending on her for their existence, survival and living, the Bible did not mention their ages, however we know that they are looking to her for escaping the coming predicament as the creditors are on their heels. Well, what can she do, what does she do? She seeks help from the man of God, Elisha. She calls out to him, “your servant , my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, and now the creditors are coming to take my two children as his slaves”. Elisha proceeds to ask her, “How can I help you?” he further adds, “tell me what do you have in your house?”. The widow shares that she has “nothing…… but jar of oil”. But why does Elisha asks her what does she have in her home? Is that he thinks she has a pantry in her home, or she is is rich, self sufficient perhaps? None of those ideas apply to this situation. Elisha points out that she should use what she already have which is a small jar of oil. God has given us gifts, talents, and He wants us to use them, but also He can bless us in mighty ways no matter how small it is. In this case it is but a jar of oil which is in the widow’s home. Elisha told her, “go to all of your neighbors”, notice he says “ALL” not some but “ALL”. By gathering all the jars from her neighbors the widow was now to return to her own home with her two sons and shut the door behind her. What specific details, even detailed as, “shutting the door behind you”, after all who would need that reminder in shutting the door behind, is not this standard procedure, one would automatically close the door behind when entering your home. Well the widow follow through and her sons began passing the bottles, as the story goes all the jars were filled till the last one when the widow asked again, it was shared that all has used. If there were more jars no doubt they would all be filled. Literally an oil factory in her own home, this poor widow now manufacturing oil. What a profound idea, well surely with God nothing is impossible. The widow then shared with Elisha that all the jars now filled, then he said, ” Go sell the oil, and pay your debt then you and your sons can live off the remainder”. This was a thriving business. Is this equivalent to “save by the day”. No this is God’s providential care. This story reminds me of just how powerful God is, why not just serve Him and live your life in Him and choose to win in Him, we have nothing to lose, but everything to gain. Just choose Him and win by giving all your life over to Him, every aspect of your life allow Him to reign over every area and trust Him. This poor widow with her two sons won by living in faith using just what she has right in her home. I’m sure there would be many things in your home if you examine, however it is not the many things God wants to use, He just wants you. That one main item is you, how much are you willing to let go and give Him all of you. Are you winning in your life today? Why not give every detail of your life over to Him and let Him reign over you.
What do you have in your home?
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Posted: April 21, 2026 by Sophia Campbell
In 2 kings 4, vs. 1-7 the story is told about the widow and her two sons. After losing her husband the creditors were now coming after her sons to used as slaves in order to settle her debt that her husband incurred. There are several factors that was already working against this widow, firstly as a widow and a female she was already disadvantaged. The means of income is threatened the loss of her husband meant her earning power is threatened by her being sole income earner. Secondly, she has dependents, two boys are depending on her for their existence, survival and living, the Bible did not mention their ages, however we know that they are looking to her for escaping the coming predicament as the creditors are on their heels. Well, what can she do, what does she do? She seeks help from the man of God, Elisha. She calls out to him, “your servant , my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, and now the creditors are coming to take my two children as his slaves”. Elisha proceeds to ask her, “How can I help you?” he further adds, “tell me what do you have in your house?”. The widow shares that she has “nothing…… but jar of oil”. But why does Elisha asks her what does she have in her home? Is that he thinks she has a pantry in her home, or she is is rich, self sufficient perhaps? None of those ideas apply to this situation. Elisha points out that she should use what she already have which is a small jar of oil. God has given us gifts, talents, and He wants us to use them, but also He can bless us in mighty ways no matter how small it is. In this case it is but a jar of oil which is in the widow’s home. Elisha told her, “go to all of your neighbors”, notice he says “ALL” not some but “ALL”. By gathering all the jars from her neighbors the widow was now to return to her own home with her two sons and shut the door behind her. What specific details, even detailed as, “shutting the door behind you”, after all who would need that reminder in shutting the door behind, is not this standard procedure, one would automatically close the door behind when entering your home. Well the widow follow through and her sons began passing the bottles, as the story goes all the jars were filled till the last one when the widow asked again, it was shared that all has used. If there were more jars no doubt they would all be filled. Literally an oil factory in her own home, this poor widow now manufacturing oil. What a profound idea, well surely with God nothing is impossible. The widow then shared with Elisha that all the jars now filled, then he said, ” Go sell the oil, and pay your debt then you and your sons can live off the remainder”. This was a thriving business. Is this equivalent to “save by the day”. No this is God’s providential care. This story reminds me of just how powerful God is, why not just serve Him and live your life in Him and choose to win in Him, we have nothing to lose, but everything to gain. Just choose Him and win by giving all your life over to Him, every aspect of your life allow Him to reign over every area and trust Him. This poor widow with her two sons won by living in faith using just what she has right in her home. I’m sure there would be many things in your home if you examine, however it is not the many things God wants to use, He just wants you. That one main item is you, how much are you willing to let go and give Him all of you. Are you winning in your life today? Why not give every detail of your life over to Him and let Him reign over you.
Category: Blog