NOVEMBER 28

YOU NEVER PUT GOD FIRST AND COME IN SECOND

1 KINGS 17:9-16


“And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.” (1 Kin. 17:13)

Here was a desperate situation, but there was a man of faith and a woman of faith who were willing to do whatever it took for a breakthrough. In many circles today, Elijah would have been criticized for saying “Go make me a little cake first.” There was only enough meal and oil for this widow woman to make something for her and her son. Then they thought they’d die. And here walks up a man of God saying, “Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son” (1 Kin. 17:13). But Elijah, how could you take advantage of a poor widow like that? He wasn’t taking advantage of her. He was giving her an opportunity to be blessed with a miracle! Elijah knew that God was a “sure thing.” “For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth” (1 Kin. 17:14).

“ And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah” (1 Kin. 17:15-16). By putting the man of God first, the widow woman was really putting God first. What happened as a result of that offering? A miracle. And what was that miracle? She and her family were sustained until the drought broke. The woman knew the principle: You will never go wrong by putting God first. And it paid off!

As believers, we aren’t supposed to be worried about what we’re going to wear or what we’re going to eat. God promised to take care of all our needs. Jesu spelled it out very plainly, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt. 6:33). Paul wrote, “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain” (1 Cor. 9:24). When we put God first, we’ll never come in second! (BN)