Daily Devotional
Provoking A Close-Knit Community
Text: Romans 12:18
“If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”
Message
The Bible in 2 Kings 4:1-27 recorded a story which, among other things, buttress why we need to provoke a close-knit community.
The widow and her two sons are left in debt after the death of their father, a prophet. The widow fears losing her sons to slavery to pay off the debt and requested help from prophet Elisha.
Elisha asks the widow what she has in her house, and she replies that she only has a small jar of olive oil. Elisha instructs her to borrow empty jars from her neighbors, pour her oil into them, and shut the door behind her and her sons. She complied, and the oil kept flowing until all the jars were full. The widow sells the oil and pays off her debts, with enough left over to live on.
While some say that the story is a foreshadowing of Christ’s acts of charity and others that the story teaches that God provides for people’s needs, even in difficult times, a close-knit community was evident.
I am equally fascinated that with help on the way for the widow, she needed cruse from her other neighbours.
The other widow with her widows mite flower that was left in obedience provided for Elijah, and she in turn reaped been provided for with her neighbours for three and half years of famine!
There’s a happy ending, of course, and we hear that the widow’s flour and oil did not run dry, and she was able to feed her son and Elijah as long as the drought continued. And don’t worry – Elijah earns his keep. A few verses later, he raises her son from the dead!
All these remind me of my mother telling me to go to our neighbours and ask for salt. But we had salt at home. I asked her why she wanted me to ask our neighbours for salt when we already had some. She explained, “Our neighbors don’t have a lot of money, and they often ask us for something they need. From time to time, I also ask them for something small and inexpensive, like salt, so that they feel that we need them too. This way, they will feel more comfortable, and it will be easier for them to continue asking us for everything they need.”
This simple act taught me a profound lesson about empathy, humility, and the importance of community. My mother understood that relationships are built on mutual support, and sometimes, asking for help is as important as offering it. By occasionally asking for small things, we create a sense of balance, making our neighbours feel valued and needed. It wasn’t just about the salt; it was about creating a bond, a sense of equality, and a shared understanding that we all rely on each other.
Growing up, I saw how these small gestures made our neighbourhood a close-knit community. We shared more than just material things; we shared our lives, our joys, and our struggles.
My mother’s wisdom greatly instilled in me the values of kindness and compassion, showing me that true strength lies in our ability to connect with and support others.
Beloved, let’s build empathetic, humble, and supportive children with countless values!
Yes, it is you who gave birth to your children, but truth be explained, they by divine arrangement and order belong and are in answer to meeting the need and purpose of the family, community, church and humanity.