(TEXT : 2 Kings 4:8)
And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.
FOCUS :
In this series, we will be considering the hospitable character of the shunem woman. Whatever it is that we have, they all came directly from God and they are given to us for the glory of God. This woman was wealthy, yet she did not allow her riches to lift her up in pride, as happens to so many, but rather allowed it to draw her closer to God. There are so many believers who can’t joke with you with their one penny. However, I don’t think this woman is really a “believer;” but the Bible refers to her hospitable character towards the man God who didn’t even asked for the opportunity from. How many needs can you remembered flying through your eyes, and yet instead of helping, you are busy condemning?
In addition, she was a great women. It is not that this woman was looking for someone to eat her food with her or trying to draw attention of the man of God to her family. The Bible says: “and she constrained him to eat bread.” The word “constrained” in my own opinion means, she kept on demonstrating her kindness towards the man of God by providing him bread to sustain him for the journey ahead of him. And I also think that one way or the other, this woman knew that if she keeps feeding the man of God with bread continuously, she is already fulfilling the words of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 25:35-40 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Finally, as believers we don’t have to wait till someone is hungry around us before we can show our hospitality character towards them. Talent can open you a door, education can take you further and success can give you influence; but character determines what you do with all of it. You can have all the PhDs in all over the world, but if you don’t have “good character” then all your PhDs are absolutely useless. Success without humility can easily become a burden. This woman was very successful in those days, but she never allow her success to bring nuance in her character when trying to be of help to the man of God. Instead she allow her character to bring out her hospitality. What kind of character are you wearing as a believer? Make sure it is the HOSPITABLE one!
BE SAFE AND GET SAVED!
God bless you richly!
Jesus Christ loves you
Thank you Holy Spirit
ARE YOU SAVED?
T.O AKINSANYA
PRINCE ORATORTEE