“And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread…Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually. Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick…And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there.”
2 Kings 4:8-11 (KJV)
In Romans 12:13, the Word of God encourages us to be hospitable; therefore, we should endeavour to:
- recognise when persons are in need
- have the financial and other resources available to meet those needs
- act in a timely manner to fulfill those needs
- have a clear motive and conscience when giving; never do anything because you expect something in return
The book of 2 Kings 4:8-10 introduces us to a woman from Shunmen. She was married, hospitable, kind-hearted, financially prudent, and possessed great spiritual insight. She invited Elisha to have a meal at her home, which was done consistently, correctly observing that he was a man of God and needed a place to rest whenever he came into the neighborhood.
This was certainly a sincere act of kindness, and it says to us that we, too, must be observant, and whenever we see a need or an avenue where we can be of service, we must act swiftly to make a difference and be a blessing. It is also important to note that we must count it an honour whenever we get an opportunity to be hospitable to others, especially to God’s servants (Galatians 6:6). God expects us to give our best to them just as the Shunammite woman did.
We saw this great woman as the Scripture described her, exemplifying Godly characteristics. She understood what she was supposed to do for the servant of God and ministered unto him with honour and respect. It is also important to note that she cultivated the right atmosphere at her dwelling place so that the man of God could be comfortable; otherwise, he would not have stayed there.
I encourage everyone, especially women, to be like the Shunammite woman. Seize the opportunity to be hospitable. As often as possible, minister to someone in need. It does not matter whether your giving or service is small or large; just do it to the best of your ability and as unto God. What a tremendous blessing it is for you to minister unto the servants of God, who are the ones who watch over our souls (1 Timothy 5:17-18).
Read: Ecclesiastes 9:10; Galatians 6:9
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 46; Luke 17:11-37; Deuteronomy 26; Deuteronomy 27; Deuteronomy 28:1-14
