11112023 Least Qualified

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of the God who pays for what He orders and equips those whom He sends. I have taken a bit of liberty with I Kings 17:8-16 for the purpose of perspective, to show us what it might have been like for the widow and to help us relate to her story. Although my story is from the viewpoint of a different character, it is my intent to accurately represent the truth of God’s Word and to provide an appropriate lesson from that truth.

Once upon a time, there was a widow who lived in Zarephath. She had a son, but he was too young to support her, so she bore the heavy burden of caring for her family at a time when being a widow was a very difficult circumstance. This was only the beginning of her troubles, as a lengthy famine compounded her situation.

One day she faced what seemed to be the end point. There was no food left in the house. She had just a handful of flour and a tiny bit of oil, just enough to make a pitiful portion of food to divide with her son. Once they ate that, there was nothing left, including hope.

The widow went out near the gate of the city, seeking a few sticks so that she could build one final fire to cook one final meal. A man approached her, a prophet, and he had a request. “Please bring me a bit of water to drink.” A little bit of water was not impossible. Even in her own desperate situation, the widow had enough compassion or hospitality to be willing to provide that request. She turned to go after the water.

“Oh, wait,” the prophet broke in. “Could you also bring me a piece of bread?”

“Is this man crazy?” she thought. “Maybe not, but he is out of luck. I couldn’t give him food if I wanted to.”

She turned back to explain, “Sir, I swear before God that I don’t have any food left in the house. I have just enough ingredients to make a final snack for myself and my son, and then we are going to die, because there is nothing left. I have no food to give you.”

The prophet replied with an unusual reassurance. “Don’t worry about it. Go make the snack like you planned, but give it to me first, and then you will be able to make another for you and your son. God has promised that your meager ingredients will not run out until the famine has ended.”

The widow turned back toward her house. She had a decision to make. Would she serve someone else or would she take care of herself? Her thoughts may have included things like the following. “I’m a pretty poor choice to take care of someone else. It’s not a matter of caring. It is a matter of ability. I literally do not have the resources. Surely God (or this man) has made a poor choice. I am the least equipped person possible to meet this need.”

“Ah, but remember the promise of God. He has promised to provide. He will give you what you do not have so that you can do what He has asked you to do.”

“Okay, fine. Even though I am without resources, even though I am the most unlikely helper, even though there must be so many others who could handle the situation better, I will do what God has asked.”

So she baked a cake and took it to the prophet. Lo and behold, more ingredients appeared, and she made another cake for her and her son. And the same the next day, and the next, and the next, until the famine was ended. That’s pretty close to happily ever after.

Sometimes God puts us in situations where He asks us to do something that we cannot possibly do. We are already stretched so thin, and He stretches us more. We seem fundamentally unequipped to do what He has asked. In fact, it seems like there are many others – anyone, for that matter – who could do the job better than we can.

But we are the one God asked. We are the one in front of whom He has dropped the opportunity. He asks us to obey. He asks us perhaps to stretch or to inconvenience ourselves or to feel awkward. And then He provides everything that we don’t have so that we can do what He has asked us to do. Somehow God accomplishes His work through us, even though we are the most unlikely vessels.

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” (II Corinthians 4:7). “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (II Corinthians 12:9).

Has God put a task in front of you that you don’t have the skills to do? A person to whom to minister and you don’t have the wisdom or experience? A need beyond your resources? Are you the least equipped person to meet the need? Would anyone else be able to do it better?

If God has asked it, then He will provide. He will give you the strength and wisdom. He will supply the resources. He will do a work through you that may seem far beyond your ability. God has all the resources, strength, and wisdom. He just needs a willing vessel. May God divinely enable you to do what seems too hard. God bless.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA