God Honors Generosity
Faithful Living in Faltering Times • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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God Honors Generosity
God Honors Generosity
2 Kings 4:8–17 (ESV)
8 One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food. So whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food. 9 And she said to her husband, “Behold now, I know that this is a holy man of God who is continually passing our way. 10 Let us make a small room on the roof with walls and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that whenever he comes to us, he can go in there.” 11 One day he came there, and he turned into the chamber and rested there. 12 And he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite.” When he had called her, she stood before him. 13 And he said to him, “Say now to her, ‘See, you have taken all this trouble for us; what is to be done for you? Would you have a word spoken on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?’ ” She answered, “I dwell among my own people.” 14 And he said, “What then is to be done for her?” Gehazi answered, “Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.” 15 He said, “Call her.” And when he had called her, she stood in the doorway. 16 And he said, “At this season, about this time next year, you shall embrace a son.” And she said, “No, my lord, O man of God; do not lie to your servant.” 17 But the woman conceived, and she bore a son about that time the following spring, as Elisha had said to her.
DT: When we yield to the will of God and consider others God will bless us beyond our expectations.
Introduction: As we continue to follow the life of Elisha the prophet we now find him in a place called Shumen. It is a small town about fifteen miles southwest of the tip of the sea of Galilee.
Heart of Service (vv. 8-10)
“8 One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food. So whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food. 9 And she said to her husband, “Behold now, I know that this is a holy man of God who is continually passing our way. 10 Let us make a small room on the roof with walls and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that whenever he comes to us, he can go in there.””
This Shunemmite woman is described as being wealthy, which I do not wish for us to exempt ourselves from the type of heart she has. She is not stingy, conceited, nor obnoxiously sophisticated. Though she had great means in wealth she was not above being a servant.
She served Elisha intentionally
She sought him out
She insisted
She served Elisha willingly
She volunteered her service
She had an open door
She did not hide from the opportunity
She served Elisha graciously
She involved her household
She had a place reserved for him for continuous
Matthew 10:40–42 (ESV)
40 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. 41 The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”
This story is really not about what this woman did for Elisha but it is more about what God did through her to provide for Elisha.
Transition: God will use us to bless others so that he may bless us
Application: The question is do you have a servants heart? In order that God can get the best out of us we are called to serve other. We are called to be gracious and intentional about our service. We cannot be arrogant and resistant to serving we must yield to the call of God and serve. What is God calling you to do? Who is God calling you to serve? Where is God calling you to serve?
Transition: The next principle of generosity that God honors is a heart of contentment.
Heart of Contentment (vv. 11-14)
“11 One day he came there, and he turned into the chamber and rested there. 12 And he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite.” When he had called her, she stood before him. 13 And he said to him, “Say now to her, ‘See, you have taken all this trouble for us; what is to be done for you? Would you have a word spoken on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?’ ” She answered, “I dwell among my own people.” 14 And he said, “What then is to be done for her?” Gehazi answered, “Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.””
Elisha is grateful for this woman’s hospitality so he sends Gehazi to inquire of what he can do for her. She responds to the prophet that she is not in want for anything. She informs him that she is “among her own people” which really means, “I have everything I need right here in my own clan and community.” She is not influenced by greed . She is content with what she has already been blessed with. She is not complaining or looking for an excuse. She is content with where the Lord has assigned her.
See, she didn’t do what she did for Elisha because she was looking for something in return. She did it because she had a heart of service and a heart of contentment.
When you bless others, not for what you can get in return but because you realize you are already blessed God will bless you more.
How do I know that? Look at the text.
This woman was blessed because she was able to live contently with what God had already done for her and for where she was in life.
Gehazi, says to Elisha, You know what? This woman does not have a son and her husband is old. (Explain the atrocities of women who are widowed in ancient times without sons).
This woman doesn’t complain about her pain she acknowledges her contentment.
Application: Be content with what God has done for you. There are so many things we can complain about in our lives. People, the job, family members, money problems, health, and so many more can be named, but, through and through you have got to be able tho see that God is still on the throne and has all things under control. Be content with that! Yes, God has got everything figured out. I want to help you be able to say, “I’m good, cause I got God!”
Hebrews 13:5 (ESV)
5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Transition: Lastly, the principle of a Heart of Faith is involved in the blessings of generosity.
Heart of Faith (vv. 15-17)
“15 He said, “Call her.” And when he had called her, she stood in the doorway. 16 And he said, “At this season, about this time next year, you shall embrace a son.” And she said, “No, my lord, O man of God; do not lie to your servant.” 17 But the woman conceived, and she bore a son about that time the following spring, as Elisha had said to her.”
The heart of faith says, God can do the impossible. The heart of faith realizes that nothing is impossible for God because God can do hard things.
Elisha promises the woman that the next year at the same season she will have a son. The woman responds, don’t play with me preacher. She is excited and grateful. We know she believed and trusted because we see that it came to pass.
Application: God has great things in sore for you but do you believe and are you willing to serve, be content, and be faithful. I do not know who I am speaking to today but I want to assure you that God knows your situation. God can change your dilemma. Just be faithful. I know you want to give up. You feel like you’re last on everybody’s list but I stopped to tell you that God got you in His sight. Be faithful! keep coming to worship, keep praying, keep serving God has got you in his sight.
Conclusion
God honors our generosity. We can display that generosity when we develop hearts that honor God with our service, contentment and faith.
God exhibits the greatest measure of generosity toward us, its called grace. Let me give you an example of His grace toward you. God sacrificed His only begotten Son Jesus to die for your sins and that you may be saved from its penalty.
Ephesians 2:8 (ESV)
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,