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Yeodikitekon Igani
Participant

A call to give is an invitation to satisfy a need. This need might be apparent or it might be one which you will have to discern by close observation. For the purpose of this discourse however, I will analyze the story of Elisha and the Shunamite woman as it is recorded in 2 Kings 4: 8-37.

The four principles on the power of giving that were expressed in this passage are revelation, obedience, sacrifice and faith.

1) Revelation:
The passage begins with Elisha’s visit to Shunem, where a woman of means invites him to her home for a meal (v 8). As proof of her support for his course, she continued to provide him food, every time he was in her City. She was careful to observe him closely, and could then tell that her guest was not like every other random stranger, but was a Holy Man of God (v.9). Therefore, her natural disposition to serve caused her to realize that providing a boarding facility for the prophet will help make his business easier. So she proactively liaised with her husband to make that provision available and ready for use by his next visit, even without first discussing it with the Prophet (v. 10-1).

This proves that everyday all around us, we are surrounded by invitations to give. Some of these needs might be apparent, but some others might not be. However, our heart posture and inclinations will determine whether or not we will be able to discern these opportunities when they are presented to us.

God in His ever gentle way will prompt us with a nudge in our spirit to respond to a need we identify, but the decision to engage or decline rests with us.

2) Obedience:

This is expressed as a response to the nudge we receive in our spirits. It could be positive and result in obedience or negative and result in disobedience. Whatever the case, our response is a reflection of our perception of the need placed before us. If we believe that it is beyond our capacity to supply, we will most likely decline the offer, if not, we will accept the challenge and proactively seek to satisfy that need.

The Shunamite woman’s response is proof that she was not phased by the requirements of the need (v.9-10). Instead, she was preoccupied with providing an enabling environment and better working conditions for the Prophet to conduct his work of ministry. So, rather than say it was beyond her capacity, she sought for partners who had the required resources and means necessary to fulfill her vision. In this case, it was her husband (v. 9-10).

This is a practical lesson that can be applied to our individual walks as believers, when we are called to satisfy a need. We must learn to trust that God who has placed that vision in our hearts, is committed to seeing it fulfilled. Therefore, He will provide us with all that we would ever require in the form of resources, partners, good will, favour and everything else that is necessary for that vision to come alive. However, this trust is only expressed in obedience.

3) Sacrifice:

The passage reveals that the resource that was required (a boarding facility in this case) to satisfy the established need was not readily available, and it was something that they had to build from scratch. Notwithstanding, the project was completed in due time (v 10-11).

One dictionary definition of sacrifice is the destruction or surrender of something for the sake of something else. This can be interpreted as the act of creating room. Sacrifice as a principle of giving applies pressure on your resources and requires you to create room to accommodate the new need. The decision to give sacrificially is proof of your obedience, which in turn is an expression of your trust in God.

Sacrificial giving can be expressed as choosing to let go of your precious at God’s request; or giving away a larger proportion of your resources; or as was expressed in this text, deciding to take on a whole new project, just to see a need met. Whatever the case, the consistent factor is the decision to satisfy God’s instructions, and see His vision come alive.

The act of letting go of the precious seed and creating room for the new, is partnership with God.

4) Faith:

In simple terms, Faith is belief. This kind of belief is often expressed as an outworking of our convictions. So, a person who chooses to work in partnership with God can rest assured that God will reward his obedience, and he will gather a bountiful harvest.

The Shunamite woman’s decision to partner with God by creating room for the Prophet in her home resulted in her longtime need for a child being fulfilled. Not because, she set out to do all that she did for that purpose, but because God chose to honor her obedience and sacrifice. So, even when it seemed like her provision was threatened (when the child died), she stood fast in her assurance and convictions, and declared “it is well” (v.23-26), and her son was restored to life (v. 32-37).

Faith as a principle of giving, does not reckon with death in the natural sense. It doesn’t count that which was released as lost. Instead, it understands that because the precious seed was released on God’s request, resurrection power is now active and at work on that seed, and it causes it to multiply and produce great abundance.

In conclusion, a decision to be guided by Scriptural principles of giving is a decision to express one’s devotion and loyalty to God. It is also a decision to protect and preserve one’s seed, and a guarantee for increase. It proves that you have history with God, and gives God legal rights and entry to act on your behalf (2 Kings 8: 1-6).

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