The Widow and the Oil

Are creditors after you? Do you feel hopeless? So did a widow with 2 boys.

In 2 Kings, a widow feared losing her 2 sons to slavery because of money she owed a creditor. She cried out to the prophet Elisha who told her to borrow vessels from her neighbors, and pour her jar of oil into them.

We’re not told what she thought about his counsel. But that she trusted, obeyed and witnessed a miracle of multiplication. Her bit of oil filled every vessel they had.  When she told the prophet, he instructed her to go and sell the oil, pay the debt, and live off the rest.

Here’s the point: she followed the advice which involved work and faith. Then, God multiplied her efforts, allowing her to pay back the debt and free her from the fear of losing her children.

Many Americans are living far beyond their means with debt nearly double what middle-class families carried in 1989.

Like the widow in 2 Kings, many homes today are led by single parent mothers who struggle to make ends meet. According to the 2017 U.S. Census Bureau, out of nearly 12 million single parent families with children under the age of 18, more than 80% were headed by single mothers.

Single parenting is hard, very hard. Death, divorce, or children born outside of marriage create seemingly impossible situations. But, God works in mysterious ways and is able to do far more than we ask or think.

In fact, single parents may experience the love of God and His amazing grace in ways others will never know. Married or single, trust God, work hard, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Remember, “we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.”

If you need help or encouragement in your finances, call the Crown Helpline at 800-722-1976 or visit crown.org