Breaking the Hold of Poverty—Using what you have
- Admin
- Jun 23, 2024
- 2 min read
June 23, 2024
Read 2 Kings 4:1-7
We return to our topic of breaking the hold of poverty. In the previous devotional, we established that if you want to be successful and wealthy, you must work - 2 Thessalonians 3:10 “For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat”
Our anchor text remains the same, but in this devotional, we will explore a key lesson from the life of the widow that prophet Elisha helped—the widow was unaware of the resources she had until they were pointed out to her.
Most times you can take your skills, resources, relationships and talents for granted, not realizing their importance to your success. Many people put off acting on their dreams and ideas because they don’t think they have what it takes.
Do not say I’ll wait for that bonus to be paid, or I need a huge amount of money, or the right connections. You can start with what you have. And with work and God’s blessing, it will grow and prosper.
Many people put off acting on their dreams and ideas because they don’t think they have what it takes.
In our text, the widow started small, she used the resources she had - a jar of oil. What do you have that seems negligible to you? The resources you need to get the work done or to start a business are usually in and around you. You need to open your eyes and mind to see and dream up opportunities.
We recently studied overcoming darkness by the restoration of sight. Often the things we need to start a profitable venture or career, or to grow existing ones, are right in front of us. But we need God to lift the darkness for us to see it. (Gen 21:15-20)
The other strategy the widow applied was to leverage on what she did not possess – vessels. She had been wallowing in poverty and possibly asking her neighbours for what they did not have – money. But they had vessels. Hoseas 4:6a says My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Are you asking the right questions or the right person or business for information? When she asked for what the neighbours could provide, they gave her. She leveraged her relationships with her neighbors and got the vessels she needed to build her enterprise.
It is time to revisit those ideas you have been ignoring. And as you continue with daily activities, be observant and see opportunities. As you take the step of faith and take action to become wealthy and successful, may the works of your hands be blessed. The hold of poverty is broken in your life. In Jesus Name.
Song of Worship
My hands are blessed – 2X
with the blessings of the Lord – 2X
Anyone I touch, surely must be blessed;
Anything I do, will be magnified;
My hands are blessed
with the blessings of the Lord.
Prayer - Dear Lord, give us the courage to step out in faith and trust in your plan. Open our eyes to see the gifts and talents You have blessed us with. Lead us to new opportunities and bless the works of our hands. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Bible in 1 year: Esther 9-10; Acts 7