JARS OF OIL

Heyyyyyy

It's Bible study time once again. Let's take a different look at one very popular Bible story.

It's the story of Elisha and the widow who was being threatened by loan sharks. she did not have the means to pay back, all she had was a jar of oil.

And Elisha said, “Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors. -

2 Kings 4:3 NLT

A neighbor is one who lends empty jars.

What are empty jars?

Empty jar is basically hunger. A void in a person that can only be filled by God.

Friends, we must in a way create a hunger( empty jar) in our fellow humans. We must be kind enough to lend empty jars to our neighbours. When they come to us, they must leave with a longing of more of the things of God.

The friends I have won't help me spiritually if they are not increasing my hunger for God. Good friends make you hungry. They don't hide their passion for God, they let you borrow as many empty jars as you can.

This is one of the earliest and most common ways God starts drawing people to Him. He surrounds them with good company. Your friends must be people you can go to and ask for "empty jars". You must not be a spectator, you must leave your friends after every visit or conversation with a deeper longing for God.

Then go into your house with your sons and shut the door behind you. Pour olive oil from your flask into the jars, setting each one aside when it is filled.”- 2 Kings 4:4 NLT

Now here's where the real work begins,

After receiving hunger from our 'neighbors', we must leave the crowd, go to our secret place and shut the door. Here is where we encounter the only One who is able to satisfy that hunger.

Shut your door to distractions and noise. Stay with Him and let Him supernaturally fill each jar one day at a time.

He said, when you fill it set it aside. So He teaches you one thing, then moves on to the next. He takes His time to fill each jar, then places it aside, like a teacher taking His students through a subject from one topic to another.

You must not idolize these people no matter how perfect they seem to be. They can cause you to hunger for more of God but they cannot fill that hunger. Only God can.

I'd like to ask you whether you have friends who increase your passion for God?

Are you surrounded by a neighborhood of people who are always directing you to God?

Do you have people in your life who motivate you to go higher in your spiritual walk?

If you do, today is a good day to say 'thank you' to them.

If you don't, today is a good day to evalute your relationships and position yourself well to be found by good neighbors.

Until next time, have a blessed week.