Division and Subtration Increases the Amount?!

"What an absurd statement!", I thought at first. It is completely against mathematical principles! I have learned now, that in God's realm, it is proved to be true. In God's economy, a little becomes much, when we give away or share. There are so many true stories to prove this from God's word and from my experience of and others'.

During the time of prophet Elijah, there was a severe famine in Israel [1 Kings 17:7-16]. A poor widow, with an only son, had only a little oil and flour left, which was just enough to make a meal for both of them. For her, it was going to be the last meal for them, before they died of starvation like the others in her village.

Then, the prophet Elijah came; sent by God. He asked her to make a meal for him first! He said "This is what the God of Israel says, 'the jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry, until the day the day the Lord give rain on the land.'" [1Kings17:14]. She, at his bidding, did so. Was she sure that the oil and flour would increase? I don't know. To be hospitable is beautiful, but to this extent is remarkable! The Lord spoke through the prophet, she believed, obeyed and it did happen. It was a miracle!

Faith is the first step between the promise and the assurance. Every miracle begins with an act of obedience.

God could have sent his servant to some wealthy person, who would have been able to feed Elijah comfortably. Or may be he would have thought it wise not to waste, but to preserve for the future, because of the state the country was in! God wanted to bless the widow, who had a heart to obey God till her life lasted, at whatever the cost. Hers was not an act of charity to gain fame.

What I learned is this: Do not be selfish. Seek God and his kingdom first [Mat.6:33]; Whatever you have, is given by God. Give to God His portion [tithe] first, then share with the less fortunate ones whatever you have. Then, the Lord will bless what remains, so that you lack nothing. This has worked well for me.

The Extraordinary is Preferable

The space expeditions, the explorations to the Poles and so many new inventions, that are speeding daily, make my life [may be yours too] look very ordinary! We become just common place beings, watching in wonder exclaiming: "What an explosion of knowledge!"

A profound thought lifted my spirits: Can all these exploits compare to what God did in the past and is able to do in the present and future?

So many miracles are recorded in the Bible. All wisdom and knowledge comes from God. I recalled what happened when God called Moses to deliver his people from slavery in Egypt: Moses was reluctant. Then God asked him: "What do you have in your hand?" "A staff.", Moses replied. He was a shepherd at that time, though he grew up in the palace earlier. The Lord told him to throw the staff on the ground. When he did, it became a snake and Moses ran from it. Then the Lord told him to reach out and take the snake by the tail. When Moses did it, the snake turned back into a staff in his hand! That ordinary rod he had in his hand became a mighty instrument to to perform mighty miracles, not only to deliver God's people but also to provide for them and to teach and judge the offenders [Ex. 4:2-5].

What you and I have in our hands today, may be ordinary things like: a pen, a musical instrument, a broom, a hammer, a sweet voice or some other little talent. It may look like "nothing but a staff". God takes pleasure in using ordinary things for extraordinary purposes.The ordinary thing in my hand, given to God at his bidding, will perform extraordinary things to bring glory to God. Remember that we serve the same God that Moses served.

If we cooperate with Him by yielding, listening and obeying Him, He can make the ordinary become extraordinary.