A Life Poured Out

2 Kings 4 vs. 1-7 (nkjv)

¹A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.” ²So Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.” ³Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbours—empty vessels; do not gather just a few. ⁴And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels and set aside the full ones”. ⁵So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out. ⁶Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel”. And he said to her, “There is not another vessel.” So, the oil ceased. ⁷Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest”.

“Your maidservant has nothing in the house”

We all have something, no matter how little; it could be that little cheer, a little word of kindness,a little encouragement, a little time to visit a brother, little time to tell somebody about Christ.

“but a jar of oil”

You mean you are anointed and yet you say you have nothing? You are anointed, not with palm oil but by the Spirit of God. The oil of grace and glory is in you.

“Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbours—empty vessels; do not gather just a few”.

There are voids in the lives of our neighbours which we can be an instrument to fill. These are voids created by sorrow, sickness, sin, satanic afflictions and many more. We already have the anointing which is the Word of God; but then, we must go.

^“And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons”

When God wants to work some wonders in the life of a man, He needs such a man to be withdrawn from the noise, distractions, hustles and bustles of the world. He just wants him alone and that was the case with Jacob, Jabez and Jesus. We must take time to shut ourselves from all the distractions that tends to becloud our reasoning and ability to hear and understand fully what God expects from us and the actions that he requires of us

“and she poured it out”

Our lives are like a pot of oil, it has little or no value until it is poured out. Jesus Christ poured out his life for us and we are still enjoying today the benefits of his out-poured life. When David was thirsty, and three of his mighty men went to fetch him water to drink from the wells of the Philistines (the enemy) in the midst of war; He could not drink it, he rather poured it out because he knew that it was the lives of men. You are loaded, you are gifted, you are blessed with talents and skills that can transform your world or at least bless your neighbour. So, don’t hold back, pour it out; let that life be a reason someone smiles.

^“Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full that she said to her son, Bring me another vessel”

Such is our lives; that our little becomes much to others when God is in it. From our little well, others can come and drink to satisfaction.

Our mission remains incomplete until the vessels are filled. I do not know how many vessels God has assigned to you, all you need do is to ensure they are full. There are many vessels that we have filled only half-way which can either be described as half-filled or half-empty; but until they are full, we cannot say that our mission is accomplished. Paul filled his vessel and was able to declare “I have finished my course” i.e. the course of filling empty vessels. May God find us faithful.

“There is not another vessel”

We often set limit to how God can use us, but God is unlimited. Elisha’s instruction to the woman was “do not gather just a few”; but at this point, the vessels were filled. Couldn’t there have been other vessels? Maybe or Maybe not. We must therefore ensure that we don’t place an embargo on our usefulness in the hands of God.

“So, the oil ceased”

The oil will cease when there are no vessels to fill. As we continue filling lives, our oil (anointing) is renewed and refreshed. As we surrender ourselves for ultimate usefulness, then there will be an utter infilling and refilling from the presence of God. Therefore, when we stay redundant, our oil (unction, anointing, grace) ceases.

“Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest”.

An outpoured life is not a life of debt, want and penury; rather it is a life of blessing. It is not a life fed with crumbs fallen from a table; rather it’s a life of excellence and sufficiency. It is a life that wants nothing but rather disperses God’s blessings abroad. It is a life that the Master can boldly say “Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours”.

What are you waiting for; that light of yours let it shine. The life that you have pour it out.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

by Ndubuisi Paul Okafor

Do you desire a Christ-like lifestyle? Then, click here for how to become born-again, Christ is earnestly waiting to receive you.

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