A Message from the Bishop - Sharing above and beyond
Dear Friends,
Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me; what have you in the house?” And she said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” (2 Kings 4:2)
Our readings in the Daily Lectionary this week show us the ministry of the prophet Elisha, who succeeded Elijah and took on the mantle (literally) of his master.
In 2 Kings 4, we read the accounts of two miraculous healings and two miraculous provisions. These miracles demonstrated that the same Spirit of God who had worked wonders through Elijah was now powerfully at work in Elisha, and that meant that Elisha, too, would be speaking the word of the Lord to Israel.
I found myself particularly drawn to the first of these accounts, in which Elisha came to the aid of a poor widow and her sons. Her debts were great and her sons were in danger of being taken into slavery by her creditor. Elisha directed her to gather empty jars from all of her neighbors and then to pour into the jars the little oil she had left. As she poured, the oil kept flowing until the last jar was full. Only then did the oil stop flowing. Elisha told her to sell all that oil, pay her debts and live off the rest.
There is so much in that rich account:
God’s heart is for widows and orphans and he wants his people to care for them.
God’s provision often comes as we obey his direction.
God may ask us to pour out what we have so that he may meet the needs of others and our own needs, as well.
I have been greatly encouraged by testimonies of the generosity of our people during COVID-19. Even as they have been restricted in gathering in person, so many have been faithful in giving. And that giving has not only enabled our congregations and missions to carry on, it has also made possible significant sharing with those in need in our communities and beyond.
This coronavirus season gives us an opportunity for special giving, for sharing above and beyond our normal giving for the work of God’s Kingdom. If your church has a special fund to help those in your community, I urge you to support it. If not, you might consider giving to help the poorest of the poor around the world through your church’s mission partners or through the Anglican Relief and Development Fund and its Coronavirus Relief Fund for the International Church. The suffering of the poor under lockdown in many places is so very great.
By God’s grace, may we be obedient to his call to sacrificial generosity for the sake of others.
Faithfully yours in Christ,
The Rt. Rev. John A. M. Guernsey