There is a story in the Bible of a woman who was facing destitution. Her husband had been a believer, so she asked the man of God for help. I love this story. You can read it in 2 Kings, Chapter 4.

She was asked what she had available. Her response was only a jar of oil. She was told to gather all the empty vessels she could and pour oil in them. A miracle happened. The jar of oil filled all the empty vessels without running out. The jar only ran out when there were no more empty vessels. The woman was able to pay her debts and live from the proceeds of the oil she sold from the empty vessels she filled. I have seen this story come alive in so many places and so many churches.

It is easy for people to think they have nothing to give, especially in a society which has the attitude that you have to have more to be successful. More is an undefined term, which simply means that whatever you have isn’t enough. Americans are some of the richest people in the world who often live like they aren’t. Our perspective beats on us through money and possessions. One place of wealth, where all men are equal, is the ability to give ourselves, our care, our love, our compassion, our forgiveness, and our consideration.

I have been in the position of being homeless and broke and broken. I was an empty vessel. I was given provision, which was fabulous, especially when I was hungry and the provision was food. I remember going to church homecomings to eat and feast like there was no tomorrow because I didn’t know when I would eat next. I was grateful. However, the greatest gifts were the compassion and caring that brought me back to my feet with the ability to stand. The greatest gifts were the shared lives. Those shared lives still live in me, and I share them with others. I was given the gift of love that continues to give because it changed my life and continues to provide hope to those I meet.

People who don’t think they have much are wrong. They may be just a small jar of oil in their own minds, but they are an endless provision of caring for others, no matter the condition of their own lives. The care they give lives on beyond the time of giving like the oil in the story. There are many empty vessels in our world, people who need to be given love and caring. Provision for the soul lasts much longer than provision for the body. We are richer than we can imagine. God has given us great wealth. That great wealth is available in all of us. I am a small jar of oil.