God’s Provision

Three-year-old Theo and his mum went to church each week to help unload groceries from the food-bank van. When Theo overheard his mum telling his grandmother that the van broke down, he said, “Oh, no. How will they deliver the food?” His mum explained that the church would have to raise money to buy a new van. Buddy smiled. “I have money,” he said, leaving the room. He returned with a plastic jar decorated with colourful stickers and filled with coins, which amounted to a little over £15. Though Buddy didn’t have much, God combined his sacrificial offering with gifts from others to provide a new refrigerated van, so that the church could continue serving their community.

A small amount offered generously is always more than enough when placed in God’s hands. In 2 Kings 4, a poor widow asked the prophet Elisha for financial assistance. He told her to take inventory of her own resources, reach out to her neighbours for help, then follow his instructions (vv. 1–4). In a miraculous display of provision, God used the widow’s small amount of oil to fill all the jars she collected from her neighbours (vv. 5–6). Elisha told her, “Sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left” (v. 7).

When we focus on what we don’t have, we risk missing out on watching God do great things with what we do have. Xochitl Dixon - Daily Bread