One Act of Kindness Can Yield Untold Blessings
One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat. She said to her husband, "I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. Let's make a small room on the roof and put in a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us."
One day when Elisha came, he went up to his room and lay there. He said to his servant Gehazi, "Call the Shunammite woman." "Tell her, 'You have gone to all this trouble for us. Now what can be done for you? . . . ' "
. . . Gehazi said, "She has no son and her husband is old."
Then Elisha said, "Call her." So he called her, and she stood in the doorway. "About this time next year," Elisha said, "you will hold a son in your arms."
"No, my lord!" she objected, "Please, man of God, don't mislead your servant!"
But the woman became pregnant and the next year about that same time she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her. 2 Kings 4:8-17
One day when Elisha came, he went up to his room and lay there. He said to his servant Gehazi, "Call the Shunammite woman." "Tell her, 'You have gone to all this trouble for us. Now what can be done for you? . . . ' "
. . . Gehazi said, "She has no son and her husband is old."
Then Elisha said, "Call her." So he called her, and she stood in the doorway. "About this time next year," Elisha said, "you will hold a son in your arms."
"No, my lord!" she objected, "Please, man of God, don't mislead your servant!"
But the woman became pregnant and the next year about that same time she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her. 2 Kings 4:8-17
There is something very deep about touching the soul of a servant of God with a thoughtful act of kindness. These are days when many servants of God have become very materialistic and some even go to the extent of exacting money from God's children for whatever services they render to them. Pursuit of dishonest gain by some ministers causes many Christians to frown on reaching out to be a blessing to genuine servants of God.
But I sincerely believe that God does grant us very unique opportunities to reach out and meet the needs of His servants when He so chooses to burden our hearts. Such God-inspired acts of kindness toward the servants of God can reap incredible blessings because they are pleasing to the Lord. That was the case with the Shunammite woman. She noticed a need in the life of the prophet Elijah and met that need with genuine love and compassion, not expecting anything in return. But out of that act of kindness came a totally unexpected blessing - the gift of a son!
Several years ago, a group of people came together and bought a car as a gift for my family. It is still our family car ten years later! They had noticed a need and felt touched to meet that need in our lives even though I objected to it for almost a year when they first told me about their intentions. I finally gave in when they said, "Pastor, please don't prevent us from being blessed by God because of your objections. This is something we are very eager to do." Over the years, I saw God bless and prosper all those involved in that act of kindness in diverse ways.
When you feel deeply prompted to bless a servant of God, do not hesitate to do so if you truly feel led by God.That one act of kindness might well be the key to untold blessings. May God remember your every act of kindness and may He richly bless and reward you.
But I sincerely believe that God does grant us very unique opportunities to reach out and meet the needs of His servants when He so chooses to burden our hearts. Such God-inspired acts of kindness toward the servants of God can reap incredible blessings because they are pleasing to the Lord. That was the case with the Shunammite woman. She noticed a need in the life of the prophet Elijah and met that need with genuine love and compassion, not expecting anything in return. But out of that act of kindness came a totally unexpected blessing - the gift of a son!
Several years ago, a group of people came together and bought a car as a gift for my family. It is still our family car ten years later! They had noticed a need and felt touched to meet that need in our lives even though I objected to it for almost a year when they first told me about their intentions. I finally gave in when they said, "Pastor, please don't prevent us from being blessed by God because of your objections. This is something we are very eager to do." Over the years, I saw God bless and prosper all those involved in that act of kindness in diverse ways.
When you feel deeply prompted to bless a servant of God, do not hesitate to do so if you truly feel led by God.That one act of kindness might well be the key to untold blessings. May God remember your every act of kindness and may He richly bless and reward you.
Prayer: Lord, please open my eyes to see and seize opportunities to be a blessing especially to those who have devoted their lives in genuine pursuit of your kingdom purposes and the shepherding of your flock. Amen.