Virtues

Renouncement

“So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah” (1 Kings 17:15, 16).

The widow has no time to ponder her decision. She must choose instantly between self-denial and self-preservation. Not only is she is at the end of her resources, but she has no way to replenish them. Is it foolish to meet the needs of her guest while depriving her son of his last supper? Perhaps one meager flatbread will not make a difference in the starvation schedule, but serving the meal first to Elijah is the self-denial test of her lifetime. Ironically, choosing against self-preservation allows God to preserve her. Trusting in the promise that her jar will never run dry and her bin will be daily replenished makes the difference between her life’s last meal and her meal lasting a lifetime.