Faithful In Times of Adversity. Part [12] 09/16/2025 (Evening thought)

Luke 21:4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

From the experiences of the two widows, and from the instructions given in the Bible, we can take away four essential points to guide us, even as we head into choppy waters. [1] God requires, and He expects the Christian to be faithful when things are going well and when things not going so good.

Luke 16: 10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?… [2] He desires that we make deliberate plans to give, and not to leave giving for the spur of the moment, to be driven by feelings, appeals, or shaming, as the case may be.

1st Corinthians 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.  It always comes down to believing God, not only on the issue of tithes and offerings, but on every other issue, command and instruction we receive from His word.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!

Faithful In Times of Adversity. Part [11] 09/15/2025 (Morning thought)

1st Kings 17:15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. 16 And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke by Elijah.

Again, because we are living at a time of increasing adversity and financial hardship, there will be strong temptations to withhold that which belongs to God and His cause. Poverty, and desperation should not drive the Christian to deviate from principle, for if we do we become the sport of circumstances. In the New Testament there was another widow who also decided to be faithful in times of adversity.

Like the widow in Elijah’s day, she too had been in a bare-bones situation, and as she got dressed to go to church, she realized that all she had remaining was two mites. The logical thing to do may seem to be her keeping her pennies and trying to stretch them ever so far. But logic and common sense are often the diabolical enemies of faith, and so she takes her two mites to church in obedience to the command of God.

What follows next is worthy of note, because God does not assess situations and motives the way we do. Being faithful is not so much about quantity, as it is about quality, for God loves and approves of the cheerful giver…. Luke 21:1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. 2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.

Luke 21:3 And he said, of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!