Do Not Get a Few

As a widow, she had grown so destitute in caring for herself and her two sons she had nothing but a jar of oil left. Yet it was enough for the Lord. His prophet Elisha said, “Go, borrow vessels at large for yourself from all your neighbors, even empty vessels; do not get a few. And you shall go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour out into all these vessels, and you shall set aside what is full.” Every vessel they borrowed was filled, and she used the proceeds from its sale to support her family.

This Biblical account came to mind during the report on our church's global missions a few weeks ago at our Synod meeting. We were informed of a tremendous shortfall in support and warned that missionaries could be pulled off the field. At that time Pastor Don Piper told of being in Pastor David Hanson's home recently. He observed his young children doing odd jobs and placing their money in a jar marked with the name of an African country where we have people serving. These young children were working and saving so those missionaries would not have to come back and the people there could keep hearing about Jesus!

That brought to mind a memory. One of these missionaries used to be in our congregation as a child. Later on, at the time when we were seeking to buy our church building in Kokomo, he and his siblings asked that instead of Christmas gifts that year the money would be given to us. Their sacrificial gifts, along with many others, have us now in the tenth year of enjoying our facility.

So with all these things in mind, now you know why this past Lord's Day, as we began a summer class on missions, we handed out to each family a mason jar with the name of that African nation on it. How even more desirous we are to do this after recently hearing of 44 professing Christ and being baptized! We are asking the saints, both young and old, to fill their jars and then bring them to put into a large container at the church. We are praying that it will be filled to overflowing by the end of the class in September.

The Lord willing, I will tell you then what our congregation brought in. And the Lord willing, I hope perhaps some of you might go hunting for some jars of your own.