Josiah Road

Empty Vessels

posted by Lisa Huddleston 29Dec

“‘Go and borrow empty containers from everyone—from all your neighbors. Do not get just a few. … pour oil into all these containers’. … When they were full, she said to her son, ‘Bring me another container.’ But he replied, ‘There aren’t any more.’ Then the oil stopped.”
2 Kings 4:3-4, 6

Empty is an adjective. Empty jars. Empty hands. Empty hearts. Empty pages. Hollow, aching, empty vessels … waiting to be filled, waiting for rain from heaven, waiting for oil from God’s provision. Yet, isn’t that just what a useful vessel should be? Empty? How can a jar hold oil unless it is empty? If hands and hearts are hanging on to material things, they cannot be held by the love of God. If it is already full, a page cannot be written upon. That is why Elisha told the widow to ask for all the empty jars she could find. He wanted her to be able to receive as much of God’s blessing as she could hold. As soon as she ran out of empty containers, the oil stopped flowing.

It’s the same in our lives. When we are too busy with the things of this world, with full calendars and full of ourselves, we don’t have room for God or the blessings He wants to pour into our lives. We rush from place to place with our ear buds buzzing, barely finding time to throw a glance toward heaven or to offer thanks over our fast food, which we eat in our cars between appointments. Our heads, hands, and hearts are full of noisy, hurried activity that consumes nearly all that we are. Thank goodness, empty is also a verb. We can empty the trashcan or our calendars or our hearts. We can deliberately pour out the world and empty ourselves of emptiness. We can make room for time with God, direction from His Word, and the oil of blessing He is waiting to pour into us. Incredibly, the oil will not stop flowing until we run out of room to receive it!

“Go and borrow empty containers … Do not get just a few.” And, remember, it’s not the container that is the important thing. It’s the content that matters! The oil of blessing from God. I am sure the widow received all sorts of jars from her neighbors: beautiful vases, ugly pots, jars with lids, and cups with cracks and chips. What mattered about each one was that they were empty and they were available to hold what God wanted to pour into them. Remember, empty is an adjective, but it is also a verb, a command telling us to make room for our God. He is boundless, and His provision is endless. We’ll need lots of room to contain what He offers us.

What do you need to empty to make room for God? Your calendar? Your heart? Your will? Whatever the vessel, it is the content that defines its purpose. God is waiting to fill you completely and then to keep filling you until you overflow. Empty yourself, lift your empty hands to Him, and praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Heavenly Father, You are the Giver of all good things. Show me what I need to empty out to make more room for You and then help me to do it. Please, fill me with more of You and overflow my heart with Your love to those around me. In Jesus’ name and for His glory, I pray. Amen.