“Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” And Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me; what have you in the house?” And she said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” Then he said, “Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few. Then go in and shut the door behind yourself and your sons and pour into all these vessels. And when one is full, set it aside.” So she went from him and shut the door behind herself and her sons. And as she poured they brought the vessels to her. When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another.” Then the oil stopped flowing. She came and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest.””2 Kings 4:1-7 ESV http://bible.com/59/2ki.4.1-7.esv
The story tells of a widow who fell into some difficult financial times. She needed a miracle and a miracle is what she got. The prophet told her to go find empty vessels. With Gods miraculous power all the empty vessels were filled and the contents used to sustain her and her sons life.
While reading this story I started thinking about how different the worlds requirements for success are from the kingdom of God. Can you imagine filling out a resume…
Strengths: none
Weaknesses: too many to count
Past experiences pertaining to job: failure
I am sure that many jobs would look at that resume and put it right in the trash bin. Generally in instances such as resumes people tend to embellish. “How can I make it look like I am the perfect person for this job?!”
What amazes me about God is that he would look at the two resumes; one filled with embellishments and accolades, the other filled with honesty and failures and he will chose the failure. He chooses the empty one. While we look at our lack of accomplishments as a negative. He looks at them as a positive. He desires to work with us. He desires to work through us. If we come with “full” vessels as though we have some grand skills to offer him we will leave just as full of ourselves as we came. How miraculous though, when we come to him empty, he fills us and uses us. When we pour out what He gave, he fills us again!!
“Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:21 ESV http://bible.com/59/2ti.2.21.esv
There is a song written by Martha Munuzzi that is my prayer today…
Empty me of anything that’s not like you
Not like you
Empty me of anything that’s not like you
Empty me of anything that’s not like you
Not like you
Empty me of anything that’s not like you
And fill me with your glory
Fill me with your power
Fill me with your presence
Lord I long to be like you
Fill me with your goodness
You love that has no limits
Fill me with your spirit
Lord I long to be like you
Empty me of everything and make me just like you
Empty me of everything and make me just like you
That Could Preach 