Serve Your Gift by Being Hospitable
2 Kings 4:10 (NIV)
“Let’s make a small room on the roof…for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes…” 2 Kings 4:10 (NIV)
In 2 Kings 4:8-11, we are introduced to a woman from Shunem whose name was not mentioned; she was referred to as the Shunammite. She was hospitable, kind-hearted, financially prudent, and possessed great spiritual insight. She invited the prophet Elisha to have a meal at her home, and this was done on a consistent basis. After some time, she observed that the man of God needed a place to rest whenever he came into the neighborhood. She recommended to her husband that a room be constructed on their property and furnished for this purpose.
This sincere act of kindness was certainly a demonstration of servant leadership. She must be commended for being hospitable and making a difference. She might even be a pioneer in Airbnb, with no rental fee attached. She served her gift with enthusiasm and excellence.
This account should inspire us if we say we care for others. The question is, “How much time and resources are we willing to invest in meeting felt needs or in accomplishing a vision?” Do we really do enough for the people around us to touch their lives and minister adequately to their needs? These are important questions we must all answer as we seek to serve with humility to impact lives and provide meaningful ministry to people.
Let us answer God’s call to serve others, even when it seems bigger than we can handle, and we have to sacrifice a lot to accomplish what is required of us. Let us be obedient and do whatever the Lord impresses upon our hearts to do. Our obedience will help us be a tremendous blessing to others, and we, in turn, will be blessed by God in this lifetime.
Beloved, ponder the words of a familiar song that can be used as a personal prayer to the Lord as you consider your response to what God is asking of you: ‘Yes, Lord, yes to Your will and to Your way, yes, Lord, yes, I will trust You and obey. When Your Spirit speaks to me with my whole heart, I’ll agree, and my answer will be yes, Lord, yes.
Read: Proverbs 11:25; Hebrews 6:10
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 84:1-7; Romans 1:1-17; 2 Kings 23; 2 Kings 24:1-7
