Making Disciples, Developing Trust

 

Then the word of the Lord came to him, “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.” And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” And she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.” And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’” And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah. (1 Kings 17:8-16 ESV).

 

Our reading today illustrates the importance of developing a relationship of trust in order to teach others how to trust. The widow of Zarephath was preparing to make her last meal. A drought had caused a severe famine, and she was out of food. Unable to feed her family, she was not looking to give the prophet her last piece of bread. Rather, despair was on her agenda: We are going to eat this last bread and then die. Elijah asked her for the one thing she didn’t think she could spare. Giving up her last resource, she could only lean on God. In this desperate moment she was pushed beyond her very limits to endure. She was out of food and without any options, but God was ready to work a miracle. What she needed was to trust God enough to be obedient.

 

Perhaps the greatest challenge in our lives is remaining confident that God is in charge and trusting him to work out the best plan for us. Godly mentors develop a relationship of trust and stretch us in our obedience to God. God challenges us to move beyond our expectations and imaginings and to respond in obedience to the calling he has placed on our lives.

 

Disciple-makers are called to help others to stretch in new ways. Accomplishing that requires that we develop a relationship of trust with those we lead. Then it requires that we teach by both word and deed. Commit yourself to being that kind of believer.