When I think of our stewardship campaign theme “Here I Am, Send Me”, I think of the story of Elijah. God told him where to go, and he went, although sometimes he went with reservation. After Elijah announced the drought to King Ahab, God told him to hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. There he was fed by ravens and he drank from a brook; then the brook dried up. After that, God told Elijah to go to Zarephath and a widow there would supply him with food. When he got there the widow only had enough flour and oil to prepare one last meal for herself and her son. Elijah told her to make him a loaf of bread before making the bread for herself and her son. He told her the jar of flour and the jug of oil would not run out until the day the Lord sent rain.
When I think of this story, I am reminded of our stewardship theme, “Here I am; Send Me.” God calls us to trust Him and His plan. The widow had to trust that she and her son would be fed throughout the drought; Elijah trusted God for his every need. This story also applies to us: do we trust God with our finances, our families, our jobs and our future? The widow first had to give food to Elijah before she was able to make a loaf of bread for herself and her son. God calls us to give to Him first. He calls us to give Him our time, our talents, our gifts, and our service first. When we give to him first, everything else falls into place.
We must trust Him and say to God, “Here I am, Send me.” He will provide when we give to him first.
— Rebecca DeSantis