Elisha and the Shunammite Woman...

 

Beloved…I so needed this example this morning! If there is one thing that is truly needed in this world, it is kindness. 

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.—Colossians 1:12-14

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.—Ephesians 4:32

I have written Shunammite woman before but I can’t help it...I have got to write again.  Every time I read this section of 2 Kings my heart longs to be as this woman was...kind, others-centered and content.  I love thinking at how her contented spirit flowed from her outward focus and kindness to others.  Her mind was not on herself and what she didn’t have it was on others and what they needed.

Lord...I want to show concern and kindness to others like the Shunammite woman from 2 Kings 4.  Oh to have spiritual eyes to see a need among Your people and pray for You to use me to fill it.   

I love her answer to Elisha when he asked what he could do for her in return for her care and concern for him.  “I dwell among my own people”, she replied.  She WAS content!  She wanted nothing!   We read in verse 14 that her husband was old and that they were childless.  She suffered the stigma of barrenness and her husband might die without an heir to carry on his name and yet she asked for nothing!   Her God knew her need, though, and filled the longing in her heart and gave her what money could not purchase...a son.   

Oh, Father, work in me a contented spirit that trusts in Your kindness and provision and that looks to bless others.  May the law of kindness always be on my tongue. 

Now it happened one day that Elisha went to Shunem, where there was a notable woman, and she persuaded him to eat some food. So it was, as often as he passed by, he would turn in there to eat some food. And she said to her husband, "Look now, I know that this is a holy man of God, who passes by us regularly. Please, let us make a small upper room on the wall; and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; so it will be, whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there."

And it happened one day that he came there, and he turned in to the upper room and lay down there. Then he said to Gehazi his servant, "Call this Shunammite woman." When he had called her, she stood before him. And he said to him, "Say now to her, 'Look, you have been concerned for us with all this care. What can I do for you? Do you want me to speak on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?'"

She answered, "I dwell among my own people."—2 Kings 4:8-13