1st Kings Chapter 17. Others before Ourselves
Elijah prophesizes that there will be a drought in the land for several years and during that time, God takes care of Elijah. Later God sends him to a widow's house and tells Elijah to have the woman fix him food. She is at the point of no hope for she said she was going to make the last bit of food that she had for her and her son and then they would die afterwards. Elijah says feed me and then feed yourself. So she feeds him and God doesn't let her food go empty but miraculously provides enough flour and oil in her food jars every day because she obeyed and fed Elijah first.
She put the needs of others in front of her own and God blessed her for it. That's not a normal way of thinking: others before ourselves. But that's the gospel message… That's the gospel being lived out. If I put others before myself I'm looking out for others. I'm thinking of others. Yes my needs are important but all too often we are always focused on self and neglect the needs of others around us.
Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Philippians 2:3-4 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking merely to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
I feel we have the opportunity to impact so many lives if we have the attitude of others before self. So let's take a day and see how many extra lives we can impact if we put others before ourselves.
- Would we give up a closer parking spot?
- Would we let a person go ahead of us in line?
- Would we compliment others more versus waiting to be complemented?
- Would we encourage others more versus waiting to be encouraged?
- Would we be okay with giving up our lunch or lunch money one day to help someone who has nothing?
There are so many things we could do without spending money to help others but we should be willing to give out of pocket if God so leads. Let me end with, I'm not saying we should never look out for our own interest but we should practice more on thinking about the interest of others and if we do, get ready to impact the lives of many.
We saw some incredible miracles happen in this chapter including a boy brought back to life! We read in previous chapters about all those bad kings and then we get to have a different perspective here. God doesn’t only care about the leaders of nations who may seem to be more important, but He cares about all people including widows. This widow was in a desperate situation where she was about to run out of food and God provided for her, but she was first asked to provide for Elijah.
I was reminded of Luke 6:27-36.
“But I (Jesus) say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”
As Jim and Pastor Blair said, the Father gives us many lessons in this chapter – on not getting ahead of Him (Elijah waits by the brook that is drying up) and on faith (the widow in the heart of Baal-worshiping country). It’s the lesson on faith that touched me most this morning.
As Blair said, we have a tendency to not think of others first – we ask for a blessing so we can give. That’s backward. We should bless first and then the blessings follow. (Matthew 6:33 -Jesus says, But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.) True sacrifice is always out of survival, not surplus. The widow could have asked Elijah to fill her barrel of meal and oil jar first and then made him a cake but she stepped out in faith and used the last of her supplies to feed him first.
It takes a lot of faith to give out of survival – when you just don’t have it – whether it is time, finances or love. The widow believed. She stepped out in faith and God blessed. Her needs were met. Lord, thank you for caring so much for us in this daily fellowship that you continue to teach us to be people of faith and how to exercise that faith so it continues to grow.