Many people desire to be great before the eyes of men by exalting themselves. However, to be great in God’s kingdom is to be willing to serve God and be useful in the ministry. Serving God is not only worshipping but also supporting His ministry. Every believer must not only worship and hear the word but also share God’s message with others.
God has many ways of supporting the needs of His servants who preach His word. He touches the hearts of believers. Preachers must go by faith to preach the gospel believing in God’s ability to provide and sustain.
And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.
(2 Kings 4:8 KJV)
The meeting of Elisha and the woman at Shunem was not an accident. Rather it was a divine providence and appointment. God wanted to bless Elisha and the woman. It is God who leads His servants where they should go. He led Elisha to go to where there was a great woman. She was called great because she had a heart for God’s work.
Some would invite or offer you food for compliments, not sincerely. However, this Shunamite woman did constrain Elisha to eat. She was very generous and kind. It must be God who led and used her to provide for Elisha’s needs. Every true preacher must just go by faith believing in God’s provision.
And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually. (2 Kings 4:9 KJV)
If God’s man will just go by faith, God can use anyone, even people you do not really know. The woman did initiate to help the man of God, but at first, she didn’t know that this man was God’s man. She didn’t even know that she was helping God’s servant. Somehow, God used her for a great purpose and as a channel of blessing. We really cannot limit God for His ways of providing for our needs are unlimited.
Later, she observed that this man who passed by them regularly was God’s man and righteous. She was right in her perception that indeed this man was a man of God. The Bible says that it is God who gives good pastors who shall teach you with knowledge.
And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. (Jeremiah 3:15 KJV)
Good pastors feed you with true knowledge and understanding and they are a blessing to the people and churches wherever they go. But the bad ones scatter sheep with false knowledge and lies. The Bible says that God gives pastors for the edification of the church.
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (Ephesians 4:11-12 KJV)
Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither. And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there. (2 Kings 4:10-11 KJV)
This woman was great because she was so supportive especially when she learned that this man was God’s servant. She was a great encouragement to her husband to support the man of God. They provided him a room, a bed, a table, a stool, and a candlestick. They provided the prophet a room to rest, sleep, and study.
And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him. And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people. And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old. And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door. And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid. And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life. (2 Kings 4:12-17 KJV)
When church members do care for pastors, it is God who will also bless them. It was an opportunity for the Shunamite to help the man of God, and to be blessed by the Lord. God cares for His servants and He cares also for those people who love His ministry. There are many promises in the Scriptures that the Lord will bless those channels of His blessings for the ministry.
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (2 Corinthians 9:7-8 KJV)
The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
(Proverbs 11:25 KJV)
For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward. (Mark 9:41 KJV)
And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers. And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother. And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died. And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out. And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again. And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well. Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slack not thy riding for me, except I bid thee. So she went and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite: Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well. And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid it from me, and hath not told me. Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive me? Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child. And the mother of the child said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed her. And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked. And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed. He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD. And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm. Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son. Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out. (2 Kings 4:18-37 KJV)
We must have great concern for the Lord’s work. Why are there many churches seemingly dying, and members have become worldly and spiritually sick. It is because of a lack of concern for God’s laborers and His works. We need revival!!!
By E. J.
RELATED TOPICS
What happens when your faith is increased
Duties of church members toward their pastor
STEP BY STEP 