“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” –Luke 6:38 

Give What You Have

The knock came abruptly and with urgency.

“Do you have any empty jars you can spare?” the widow asked, her sons huddled close beside her. Her plea was desperate.

Her neighbor hesitated. Jars? he thought. Why would she need jars? With famine always a threat during this time and scarcity a constant worry, giving away an empty jar seemed foolish. He had been storing oil and wheat—carefully rationing it—but as he surveyed his neighbor’s eyes, compassion stirred within him. Reluctantly, he gathered his empty jars and handed them over.

Hope for a Miracle

After her husband’s death, the widow was left with a crushing debt she could not repay. Now, the creditor was threatening to take her sons as slaves. Without them, she would be destitute. The only hope she had was that the prophet Elisha’s instructions would lead to a miracle. He had given her a simple command: “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars.” 

So, house after house, she went—asking family, friends, and neighbors for jars, clinging to the hope of a miracle. 

After collecting the jars, something amazing happened. The widow took the only thing she had left—a small flask of olive oil—and began to pour, just as the prophet Elisha had instructed. Jar after jar, the oil flowed until each was filled to the brim. Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the oil stopped—exactly when no more jars were left. With the money she made from selling the jars of oil, she paid off her debts and saved her sons from slavery.

God Provides

The widow’s story in 2 Kings 4:1–7 is a beautiful picture of God’s faithfulness to provide. 

But we often overlook part of this story—the role of those who gave away their jars. The miracle extended only as far as the number of jars the widow collected. What if her neighbors had refused? What if no one had given her a jar? The oil would have stopped long before she had enough to save her sons. 

We see this pattern throughout Scripture—God often partners with ordinary people to accomplish the extraordinary. A boy handed over his meager lunch of five loaves and two fish, which Jesus used to feed thousands. A servant mentioned a shepherd boy named David who played the lyre, and that boy became a king.

The Role We Play

In the widow’s case, it was her family and friends—those who gave what they had, no matter how small—who played a part in God’s miracle. God gives us the same invitation to partner with Him today.

The prayers we pray for others, the money we tithe and give to the Church, or the jars we give to a neighbor in distress may feel like insignificant acts. But in God’s hands, they become part of something far greater. What seems small to us is multiplied in God’s kingdom. Even though we may never witness the outcome, Jesus reminds us that what we give will be returned to us in full. We should give with cheerful hearts, knowing God will supply all our needs!

So, what jars do you have to give? 

What does this mean for me?

Take a moment to ask the Holy Spirit, “What is it You want me to give?” Maybe it is something small, or perhaps it is something that requires more sacrifice. This week, be sensitive to what God is telling you to do and be obedient to His voice. When He asks you to pray for someone, give something away, or go into your community and serve, know that He can multiply whatever you give!

This article is part of the Let’s Go Devotional, which is focused on fulfilling Jesus’ Great Commission. Follow along with the devotional here.