Called to Generate
A Call to Generate Wealth Elena Beltran
A long restless night of insomnia, clenched teeth, and a stomach empty of peace. If this resonates with you, quite likely you are going through a financial storm.
Financial trials test our faith, and a lack of resources robs us of our tranquility. Scarcity and debt are giants that try to silence our peace and undermine our confidence in God and ourselves, opening the door to despair and temptation. It seems like there’s no way out, and the fear of tomorrow is an unbearable weight.
How do you get out of the impossible? How do you climb out of that pit? Whether you’ve fallen due to your own mismanagement or due to external circumstances? The answer is not in panic, but in a powerful biblical principle that reveals who we are and who God is.
In 2 Kings, chapter 4:1-7, we find a story that is a beacon of hope for everyone facing a crisis.
A widow, whose husband was a member of the company of the prophets, found herself on the verge of collapse. Her debt was so severe that she would not only lose her possessions, but the creditor was coming to take her two sons as slaves. She pleaded with the prophet Elisha, and their dialogue holds the key to our miracle:
“‘How can I help you?’ Elisha asked. ‘Tell me, what do you have in your house?’ ‘Your servant has nothing at all,’ she said, ‘except a small jar of olive oil.’ Elisha said, ‘Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it aside.’” (2 Kings 4:1-7 NIV)
This woman had nothing more than a little oil. God did not tell her to run away, nor to beg for pity, nor to give up. Instead, God, our Heavenly Provider, gave her a bold instruction: He would multiply the little she already had! Furthermore, he asked her to go to her neighbors and ask for empty jars—symbols of the expectation and capacity she was willing to receive.
The Oil: A Symbol of Your Gifts
In the Bible, olive oil was not only an everyday commodity (for cooking, light, and medicine), but a sacred and ceremonial element symbolizing God's Presence, His Blessing, and His Choice.
It represents the Holy Spirit: Anointing with oil was the symbol of the transfer of divine authority. The oil you have in your house is the gift, the skill, the talent that the Holy Spirit has already given you.
It is "Oil of Joy": The prophet Isaiah promised "the oil of joy instead of mourning" (Isaiah 61:3). God's restoration not only pays the debt, but replaces your sadness with a deep joy.
It is Divine Provision: The multiplication in the widow's jar is irrefutable proof that God cares for His people.
You Are a Wealth Generator
God owns the silver and the gold. (Haggai 2:8) He is the Creator of the entire universe, and He created you with the capacity to generate wealth. (Deuteronomy 8:18) He is Jehovah Jireh – The Lord Will Provide. (Genesis 22:14)
Don't wait for the miracle of Aladdin's lamp. Wait for the miracle of creative obedience!
Look around you, inside your own house and inside your own self. What is your "small jar of oil"?
Do you have skilled hands for baking, cooking, cleaning, or sewing?
A clear mind for writing or translating?
A voice for teaching or sales?
Can you drive a car or operate a machine?
No matter how small or insignificant that talent seems, it is what God can use to multiply it.
In the widow's story, she follows the instructions of the Prophet Elisha, shuts herself in her house with her two sons, and they fill the jars with oil. Once the task is finished, Elisha tells her:
“‘Go and sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.’” 2 Kings 4:7
Your Action Plan
If you find yourself in the storm, today is the day to emerge from passivity and move into action with faith, determination, and humility:
Confess the Reality and Hear His Voice: Be honest with God about your situation. Repent if you have mismanaged your resources, and then wait for His instruction. Seek spiritual counsel, read the Word, and wait for His answer with expectation.
Get to Work with Your "Oil"! Do what God has placed in your heart. Use your gifts and talents diligently. Ask your friends and neighbors for "empty jars" (opportunities, support, ideas). The widow was not a burden; she was a provider! She sold something that others needed. You, too, have something valuable to offer.
Prioritize Restoration: As the oil multiplies and income comes in, pay your debts. You will experience unmatched satisfaction in keeping your word and rectifying the path. If you have been forgiven, learn to forgive those who owe you.
Be Faithful to the Purpose: When you come out of your difficulty, return your offering to God. Be generous, support the work of His Kingdom, and maintain the path of generosity and good stewardship.
But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you
the ability to produce wealth…. Deuteronomy 8:18a (NIV)
Stand Firm and Move Forward! In this world, you will have trouble,
but Jesus tells us, "Take heart! I have overcome the world!"
Blessings upon you, your audacious faith, and the honest work of your hands! You were created to generate wealth!