The Message of the Widow’s Oil with Sharon Epps

Episode 419

The Bible contains many accounts of God providing miraculously for His people, but none are more fascinating than the story of the Widow’s Oil.

That passage is found in 2 Kings 4:1-7—it’s just seven verses, but they’re loaded with teaching about God’s provision. Sharon Epps joins us today to unpack the story of the Widow’s Oil and how we can apply it to our lives today.

Sharon Epps is the president of Kingdom Advisors, FaithFi’s parent organization. Kingdom Advisors serves the broad Christian financial industry by educating and equipping professionals to integrate biblical wisdom and financial expertise.

Elisha and the Widow’s Oil

Let's start by reading the whole story from 2 Kings 4:1-7:

Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” And Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me; what have you in the house?” And she said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” Then he said, “Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few. Then go in and shut the door behind yourself and your sons and pour into all these vessels. And when one is full, set it aside.” So she went from him and shut the door behind herself and her sons. And as she poured they brought the vessels to her. When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another.” Then the oil stopped flowing. She came and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”

God’s Role in Our Provision

This story beautifully illustrates God's role in our lives. God provided the oil when the widow had no other means and also ensured there were buyers for the oil to settle her debts. This story reminds us of our total dependence on God for our needs.

Our Role in God’s Plan

While God is the ultimate provider, the widow has a significant role to play. She sought help from Elijah, followed his instructions, gathered the jars, poured the oil, and sold it. This highlights the importance of our participation in God’s provision. We must be active in our faith, seeking guidance, obeying God’s instructions, and doing our part diligently.

The Lesson of Faith

Verse 3 of this passage is particularly powerful. Elijah instructed the widow to gather as many jars as possible, and the amount of oil she received was directly tied to the number of jars she collected. This act of gathering jars was a manifestation of her faith. Similarly, our faith can determine the extent of God's blessings in our lives.

Practical Steps for Faithful Stewardship

There are several practical lessons from this story:

Rely on God: In difficult situations, look to God for guidance rather than relying solely on your own abilities.
Seek Wise Counsel: Just as the widow sought Elijah's help, we should seek advice from trusted advisors and fellow believers.
Do Your Part: Be faithful to the tasks God has given you, no matter how small or mundane they may seem.
Involve Your Family: Include your family in your journey of faith and stewardship, allowing them to witness God’s provision firsthand.
Avoid Debt: Be mindful of the financial burdens you might leave behind, ensuring you plan for the future responsibly.
Use What You Have: Consider how you can use your current resources to meet the needs of others, practicing generosity as an essential aspect of stewardship.

By aligning our hearts with God's, we can experience the true joy of faithful