Surely you have been in one of those situations where you realized too late that you could have asked for more. You're asking for a favor and the answer of yes comes back so quickly that that you realize you should have asked for more.
I know it's not just me, but I am usually so anxious for an affirmative response that I ask only for what I absolutely need. This kind of action probably says more about my lack of trust in whom I am asking than it does in the ability of the person to provide. Never is this so clear as when I only ask God for what I absolutely need. We can spiritualize this and say we are only asking for the minimum because we don't want to be greedy.
But the Bible is telling us that we should ask. 'Ask and you shall receive' is only one example from many. And then there is this story in 2 Kings 4:1-7. This widow comes to Elisha with her sob story about needing money. She's legit and so Elisha tells her to get a bunch of jars and pour what little oil she has into the jars. He hints at the madness that may ensue by telling her to get many jars and by saying to put each jar aside as it is filled.
She does all this and when she gets to the last jar, the oil, which was miraculously flowing, stopped. She sold the jars of oil and paid all her debts. Were her needs taken care of? Yes. Did a miracle occur? Yes. Should she be kicking herself for not getting more jugs? Yes!
If I were this woman, I would be asking myself why I didn't get more jars. Presumably, that oil would have kept flowing until her jars ran out. She could have been the world's first oil tycoon. But I have been there, questioning just how much God is willing to give. I'm not going to start flashing gaudy rings and driving sports cars, selling a book on how God wants to make you rich too, but...
Wrong motives aside, we need to come to God with boldness, trusting in His ever-giving nature. Or as Nancy Spiegelberg wrote, "Lord I crawled across the barrenness to You with my empty cup uncertain in asking any small drop of refreshment. if only I had known You better I'd have come running with a bucket."
I know it's not just me, but I am usually so anxious for an affirmative response that I ask only for what I absolutely need. This kind of action probably says more about my lack of trust in whom I am asking than it does in the ability of the person to provide. Never is this so clear as when I only ask God for what I absolutely need. We can spiritualize this and say we are only asking for the minimum because we don't want to be greedy.
But the Bible is telling us that we should ask. 'Ask and you shall receive' is only one example from many. And then there is this story in 2 Kings 4:1-7. This widow comes to Elisha with her sob story about needing money. She's legit and so Elisha tells her to get a bunch of jars and pour what little oil she has into the jars. He hints at the madness that may ensue by telling her to get many jars and by saying to put each jar aside as it is filled.
She does all this and when she gets to the last jar, the oil, which was miraculously flowing, stopped. She sold the jars of oil and paid all her debts. Were her needs taken care of? Yes. Did a miracle occur? Yes. Should she be kicking herself for not getting more jugs? Yes!
If I were this woman, I would be asking myself why I didn't get more jars. Presumably, that oil would have kept flowing until her jars ran out. She could have been the world's first oil tycoon. But I have been there, questioning just how much God is willing to give. I'm not going to start flashing gaudy rings and driving sports cars, selling a book on how God wants to make you rich too, but...
Wrong motives aside, we need to come to God with boldness, trusting in His ever-giving nature. Or as Nancy Spiegelberg wrote, "Lord I crawled across the barrenness to You with my empty cup uncertain in asking any small drop of refreshment. if only I had known You better I'd have come running with a bucket."
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