The Daily Blade: Joby Martin & Kyle Thompson

#25 - Kyle Thompson // Godly Companionship is SACRIFICIAL

Joby Martin & Kyle Thompson Season 1 Episode 25

This episode discusses the core theme of sacrificial companionship through the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath, highlighting the importance of selflessness in relationships. The conversation encourages listeners to reflect on their own willingness to sacrifice for others without expecting anything in return.

• Exploration of godly companionship as a sacrificial act 
• Analysis of the widow's response to Elijah's request 
• Insights into our motivations behind helping others 
• Reflection on who supports us unconditionally in our lives 
• Encouragement to embody sacrificial love in our own relationships 
• Calls for listeners to share the episode and leave a review

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Speaker 1:

Welcome to the Daily Blade. The Word of God is described as the sword of the Spirit, the primary spiritual weapon in the Christian's armor against the forces of evil. Your hosts are Joby Martin and Kyle Thompson, and they stand ready to equip men for the fight. Let's sharpen up.

Speaker 2:

This week we are digging into the concept of godly companionship by looking at different elements that make up true godly companionship. Yesterday, we talked about how godly companionship is present. Today, we're going to cover this. Godly companionship is sacrificial. Godly companionship is sacrificial, and we're going to do that by looking at something that happened in the life of one of my favorite people in the Bible, and that's the prophet Elijah. I absolutely love Elijah and that shouldn't be a surprise, considering that I named my second born son after him and I think I'm drawn to Elijah because he was a prophet during a time of wicked and depraved darkness in Israel, At my ministry, Undaunted Life. We're in existence to equip men to push back darkness, and even a cursory study of the life of Elijah reveals a man that was willing and able to push back darkness wherever he saw it.

Speaker 2:

There are many popular historical occurrences in the life of Elijah, like him proclaiming a drought in 1 Kings 17, and his prayer that ushered in the end of the drought in 1 Kings 18, his rather hilarious confrontation with the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18, him fleeing from Jezebel in 1 Kings 19, where God essentially told him like look, dude, have a steak, have a nap and chill out, and him also being taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire and a whirlwind in 2 Kings 2. But today I want to focus in on a story where Elijah wasn't really the main character, where he wasn't really the point, and that's the story of the widow of Zarephath that we see recorded in 1 Kings 17, verses 8 through 16. This is right after he predicts a drought in Israel, a drought that ended up lasting more than three years. I'll read that here. Then the word of the Lord came to him Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you. So he arose and went to Zarephath, and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks, and he called to her and said Bring me a little water and a vessel that I may drink. And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand. And she said as the Lord, your God, lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks, that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die. And Elijah said to her Do not fear, Go and do as you have said, but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me and afterward make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, the jar of flour shall not be spent and the jug of oil shall not be empty until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth. And she went and did as Elijah said, and she and he and her household ate for many days. The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.

Speaker 2:

So let's dig into this story. First of all, the Faith Life Study Bible points out that we can surmise from the language used here that it is very likely that this woman is newly widowed, because she could be recognized by her mourning garment. Also, when she says that she is preparing a meal for her and her son, that we may eat it and die, she's not being figurative here, guys, she's being literal, it seems like, because of the recent death of her husband, that she is unable to procure future meals for her and her household. So she thinks that this is the last meal that she and her son will eat before they starve to death. She thinks that this is the last meal that she and her son will eat before they starve to death. I mean, this is pretty bleak. Obviously.

Speaker 2:

Now, normally Elijah's request would not fall outside of the expectations of customary hospitable behavior. But they aren't living in normal times right here. They're in the middle of a severe drought and famine. So Elijah's request for her to go and you know, make him a little cake. You know his request of this woman is extreme, given the circumstances, because she is experiencing an existential crisis. But in verse 13, we see Elijah reassure her do not fear. And then we see her response in verse 15, and she went and did as Elijah said.

Speaker 2:

Now a lot of different points can be made here about this story. You know, Elijah acted in authority by telling this woman that she would receive a blessing. The widow acted in faith by doing exactly what Elijah told her to do. But here's the main point that I don't want us to miss this woman chose to sacrifice for the benefit of others without assurance of any favors or benefits in return. Don't miss that.

Speaker 2:

I mean, it's huge, because in our experiences and for some of you, this is going to be like me holding up a mirror we will only sacrifice for someone if we think we might get something that we want in return.

Speaker 2:

You know, we'll help a guy load up a U-Haul because we know that we're going to be moving soon too and we're going to want his help, right. You know, we'll give a sale to a coworker and, you know, seem like the hero, but we've already got a bigger deal lined up in the pipeline, right. But what about the times where there is literally no possible benefit to you? Do you default to doing what is best for someone else? Better yet, do you follow the prompting of God when it does not make sense on your score sheet? For most of us, me included, a lot of times we don't, and we may be surrounded by guys like that too. So here's what I want you to think about today Do you have men in your life that are willing to sacrifice for you when they don't stand to benefit from it? Keep that in mind as we march towards tomorrow.

Speaker 1:

Thank you for listening to today's episode Before you go. If you want to help equip other men for the fight, share this podcast around and leave us a 5 star rating and review. Stay sharp.

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