The Empty Oil Bottle

I had one last pan of patties to cook. Glancing at the bottle of oil, I could see I barely had enough to finish the job. I really did not have much to worry about, though, knowing the store was close by and I had the means to buy more. I wonder what it must have felt like for the widow of Zarephath and her son (1 Kings 17): she had just enough oil and flour to prepare a small cake for each of them, and then they would slowly die of hunger.

What a blessing she received when she accepted Elijah’s word that there would be enough flour and oil to sustain the three of them until the rain came. Thankfully, I have never been in the situation of having an empty flour pot.

The word empty has quite a depth of meaning when pondering the dictionary definition. It means to contain nothing, to be hollow, deserted, forsaken, and meaningless.* As we consider the number of empty stomachs around the world and the lack of food, the word empty indicates more than physical hunger. Too many lives are forsaken and deserted.

Oh, may Jesus come soon and put an end to the suffering we constantly see around us. Jesus knows all who are running on empty today.

He sees the lives that need filling with love and care and others who are lonely and low on energy and health. There are others struggling in despair with financial problems; some have had their homes burned or washed away, losing loved ones.

These things will cease when Jesus comes, but while we wait, He will help us reach out to connect with those we meet about us who need to be filled with encouragement. Each day we need to be renewed in the strength that comes from God so we are filled with His power to do His will. “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31, KJV). If our spiritual life is running on empty, there is no way we can work efficiently for God. Pray and stay close to Him, for Satan will do all he can to snatch us from His hands.

I have shared my thoughts with you. Now I must go back to my kitchen to finish my cooking. As I do, I open a new, full bottle of oil, and I pray for each of you.

May you feel the power of the Holy Spirit filling your lives with peace, hope, and joy today.

Lyn Welk-Sandy

* Merriam-Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary, s.v. “empty,” accessed February 21, 2024, https://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/empty.