The High Cost of Living, Part 2: Trust Me…

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
– Philippians 4:19

2 Kings 4:1–7
      ⁴ The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”
       ² Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”
       “Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.”
       ³ Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. ⁴ Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”
       ⁵ She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. ⁶ When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.”
       But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing.
       ⁷ She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”

A series of real-life moments:

Crisis happens

Creditors don’t care

The question is posed: What do you have?

The question is answered: Nothing…

A realization is made: …except a small jar of olive oil.

An illogical trust request is made: Pour oil

A decision is made to trust: She kept pouring

How can I practically trust the , and not the ?

T – your finances

Proverbs 27:23-24 Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations.

R – ten percent to its rightful owner

Malachi 3:10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

1 Corinthians 16:2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.

Proverbs 3:9-10 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

U – to gain victory

Proverbs 21:5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.

Proverbs 21:20b “…stupid people spend their money as fast as they get it.” (Good News Bible)

S – for the future

Proverbs 13:11 Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.

Proverbs 21:20 The wise store up choice food and oil. But fools gulp their down.

T – and savor contentment—enjoy it!

Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

God keeps his promise to those who choose to trust him and faithfully “keep pouring”.

Small Group Questions

1. On a scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high), how concerned are you about the high cost of living?
2. What is your most prized possession? Why?
3. What is your greatest fear when it comes to finances? What does Philippians 4:19 do to that fear?
4. Which of the 5 elements of trust is the most difficult for you? What is your plan to correct that?
5. Have you surrendered your finances to Jesus? What is one practical step you can take to make that decision today?
6. How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?