Friends in Christ Message for July 25, 2015

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Friends in Christ Weekly Message
July 25, 2015

A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing food from the first fruits to the man of God: twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. Elisha said, "Give it to the people and let them eat." But his servant said, "How can I set this before a hundred people?" So he repeated, "Give it to the people and let them eat, for thus says the LORD, 'They shall eat and have some left.'" He set it before them, they ate, and had some left, according to the word of the LORD.
2 Kings 4:42-44 (NRSV*)

The ancient Biblical practice was to bring the first fruits of the harvest to God, as represented usually by the priests. In this case, a man brought his first fruits to Elisha.

Discerning the will of God regarding this offering, Elisha directed that it be given to the 100 people present to eat, even though it did not seem enough for such a crowd. But there was not only enough, but some left over. This presages Jesus feeding the 5,000 in the New Testament.

We are to give of what has come to us for God's work. If we give with a generous heart, it will be enough. And part of God's work is feeding hungry people. If people who have are generous with what they have been given, there will be enough for everyone.

We each need to examine ourselves and ask if we are generous with the resources with which we have been blessed. Do we trust that if we are generous with our resources, God will do more with them than we can imagine?

Bill Samuel

* New Revised Standard Version © Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.