Serve with trust
1 Kings 17:7–16
According to Merriam-Webster trust is “a firm belief in the character, strength or truth of someone or something.” We all place our trust in many things, but is that trust founded?
I have a personal friend who earned a lot of money the old-fashioned way; he inherited it! I was astonished at the number of resources his family had at their disposal. Shockingly, within a span of six months his “financial security” was gone. Every investment went south overnight. What a reminder. You cannot trust in financial security. There is only one sure and constant source of trust — the one true God. Will you trust Him today?
Follow God’s direction, even when it doesn’t make sense. (7–12)
Elijah’s source of water eventually dried up. God was still looking out for him and sent him to Zarephath, in Phoenicia, Jezebel’s native land and the heart of Baal worship. The Lord sent Elijah to a widow.
In those days, widows had minimal means to provide for themselves, much less for someone else. Humanly speaking, God’s direction didn’t make sense.
When you follow God, the world will see that the victory is not because of your ability or prowess but because of God!
Encourage others to join you in trusting God. (13–14)
Not only was Elijah trusting God in faith, but he asked this widow to trust as well. Note, Elijah asks the widow first to make him a cake, which could deplete all she had left. If she had faith in God and His word through Elijah, she and her son would have plenty to eat through the drought. Her obedience demonstrated her trust in God’s word.
As Christ-followers, we must also encourage others to join us in trusting God.
Several years ago, the church I served as pastor voted to relocate to a new campus, but we didn’t have the money. The church leadership encouraged people to seek what God wanted them to give and trust Him to provide. I was amazed at the sacrificial giving.
We see God work when we trust His guidance. (15–16)
When we step out in faith and trust God, we see an aspect of Him we could not see otherwise. Because this woman heeded Elijah’s words, the jar of flour and jug of oil were never empty during the drought. Instead of dying, she and her son witnessed the sustaining power of God Almighty. They were able to see firsthand that God, not Baal, is the only one who can provide flour and oil in a drought. He is the one true God. Even today, when we step out in faith and trust His guidance, we see God at work.
Referring back to the church I led to relocate, a consultant shared that we should anticipate raising $1 million.
The problem was, we needed a minimum of $4 million to move. It appeared we were in an improbable, if not impossible, situation. But God! We determined we would continue to trust and follow His guidance. We prayed, we pledged and we trusted. As the pledge cards were tallied, we received $6.25 million. Over the next few years, God doubled our size. Had we not trusted His guidance, we would never have seen Him work in this miraculous way.
What about you? Are you missing out on seeing God work because you are not trusting His guidance? Like Elijah, we must serve with trust.
By Rob Jackson, Ph.D.
Jackson has served in a variety of ministry roles, including pastor and state missionary.
