Give What You Have, at Home
Scripture Reading — 1 Kings 17:7-16
“I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”
—1 Kings 17:12
Life can be harsh. We are up against death all the time. The woman at Zarephath was prepared to do everything she could for her son, even until the end.
If we could just do this in our homes today!
The world outside is a famine-stricken wasteland. So all a husband really has to do is start his wife’s car for her once in a while. And a wife could spend five minutes listening to her husband. All a kid needs to do is say, “Thanks for supper,” and carry the dishes to the counter—or maybe even volunteer to wash them. We might only have today, you know.
It shouldn’t be too difficult. Just scrape a few sticks of basic kindness together. Really? You can’t do that? Sure you can. Because God scraped up two big sticks and made them into a cross. His Son died on them for a broken, famine-scorched world. He died for you. And me. He gave us all he had.
Living out salvation is really mostly about giving.
Happier homes start when people in a family make a gentle commitment: “I will give my family what I have; I will share what I have with them, even just little things.”
My family is my blessing and my task, Lord. I realize this more deeply as I think about it. Help me to be less selfish. Use me to bless others today. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
About the author — Keith Mannes
Keith Mannes serves as pastor at Highland Christian Reformed Church in McBain, Michigan. Keith and his wife, Alicia, recently celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary,
and they are thankful for their three children—Eben, Charis, and Breanna.
Start your day with quick daily devotions.
See God's love, power, presence, and purpose in your life every day!