I was just talking with a friend who is running out of money very fast. (Seems a lot of people are in that place these days).
We ended up talking about skinny widows.
Widows in the Bible were the ultimate example of people in a vulnerable, needy position. No government programs. Little private help either.
There’s a widow mentioned in the Old Testament who was just about to starve in a time of great famine (famine was to them what recession is to us). She had a child too. (Being poor gets even harder when you have a child) She must have been skin and bones. (Fat is to our body what savings are to our finances).
Along came a preacher (watch out for those preachers) and asked her for her last sandwich. He told her that if she would give him her last sandwich God would “poof” – fill her lunchbox. She did. He did. Why is the story there? Maybe Someone put it there to teach us that when we feel like giving in (to fear) or giving up (in despair), we should give (in faith) instead.
I have a friend who has been diagnosed with ALS. We had lunch yesterday and he told me that God told him and his family to give away their time, their money, their energy more than ever. Rather than giving in our giving up, they’re giving. I just bet God will fill their bread basket!