LITTLE IS MUCH

The nursery rhyme about Old Mother Hubbard’s “boneless” bare cupboard is all too familiar a theme in many lives at different times. Facing the prospects of more expense than income has driven many to despair, even those who, at other times, are people with strong faith in God. Of such the question may be asked:

How much do you have?
Enough the reply.
Then why for more manna do you cast your eye?
Do you not know, with much there is spoil,
But when there is little, it’s always fresh oil?
God’s bounty is not for hoarding away,
But given in measure for needs of the day.
With Him the provision’s just right there on time.
No need for your fretting when you’re on His mind.
So take daily blessings, though enough may be small,
For when God is in it, His little is all. (Jim)


I Kings 17:16 "And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the Word of the Lord, which He spake by Elijah."


Elijah was sent to a destitute widow of Zarephath, so that she could sustain him during the drought he’d pronounced. She had but little but gave it all to the prophet, and her gift was blessed by a meal barrel and oil cruse that daily met her needs. (I Kings 17:8-16) Israel was free but hungry in the wilderness, and God provided them with manna, enough for every day’s need. (Exodus 16:11-26) How typical the reaction of some to display a lack of trust and try to hoard it beyond their need. Such is the case when we lose sight of Whose provision it is, Whose promise sustains, and Whose purpose is to have it bear a future blessing to others. The result of such loss of vision is the spoiling of the very provisions intended for good. How much better to be blessed by enough, though little in its beginning, that God in His faithful purpose may increase our capacity for more blessing, in order to be more of a blessing. How much better to have the fresh new bread of daily fare, than the dry or moldy crusts of yesterday’s greed. Indeed, the Lord is great in His faithfulness and His mercies and compassions do not fail, but are new every morning. (Lamentations 3:22-23) Give thanks for such daily bread, and pray that you would so share its provison in your life, that your faith would grow, and that its provision through you would resound to the growing faith of others, too.

Be encouraged, my friends, for little is all, if it is His.