WHAT’S IN YOUR JAR? Part two…

2 Kings 4:1-7
III. When there were no more containers the oil stopped flowing
Just as in the days when Israel wandered in the wilderness and God met their needs with manna every morning, God will give us what we need, when we need it, to accomplish His good work within us.
“For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Eph 2:10
We need not compare ourselves to others who may be doing “more” or to whom the Spirit may be manifesting himself in a different manner. The oil that God is pouring into your jar and my jar will be just the right amount that He will need to accomplish what He wants to accomplish in and through our lives. Period…no more and no less!
When our lives are done and His purposes are accomplished then the oil will stop flowing.

IV. Used the oil for debt payment (practical use)
God has been gifted us not only for spiritual ministry to one another but also for ‘practical’ ministry.
“In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'
"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." (Luke 10:30-37)

We are to use the ‘oil’ that has been poured into us from God wherever we go to help those in need around us…no matter what church they attend or don’t attend; no matter what belief structure they have or don’t have; no matter what nationality, race, or sexual preference.
Bottom line: no matter how much ‘oil’ we have received, “Freely you have received, freely give.” (Luke 10:8) We will forever owe a debt to Christ for what He has done for us. As He freely gave to us we are to freely give back to Him by giving to others.
“We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.” (Romans 12:6-8)

V. What seems like hoplessness…
A number of years ago, one of the coffee cups from my china set broke. I had two choices, throw it away or use Superglue. When hopelessness and desperation come into our lives sometimes we only see, “throw it away…what’s the use anyway.”
The value of something is not always seen from the outside. Sometimes in order to see the true value or strength of a jar it will be packed to the limit and possibly broken. The antonym for packed is “empty.” At times we will be so packed with the cares and worries of this world we may crack if not break under the pressure. It is exactly at that moment when our “stuff” empties out that you and I also have a choice, be thrown away or allow God to put “humpty dumpty back together again” with His Superglue. We live in such a disposable world but YOU and I are not disposable! “God demonstrated his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) How great is the value God placed on us that He gave up His son for us...before we were even born!
God will NEVER throw us away. When we finally let go we then will be in a position for Him to mold and shape us for His divine use.

I Superglued my coffee cup and it sits in my china closet with the other “perfect” cups. It serves as a reminder to me that God isn’t finished with me yet either. I may not be perfect, I have a few “scars” but each one bears witness to the all-surpassing power of God that is still at work within me.

So….What’s in your jar?