God First by S. H. Virgin

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 16, 1872

God First.

By S. H. Virgin

THERE is a depth of meaning in the conversation which occurred between Elijah and the widow of Zarephath which many Christians have not yet sounded. There was one request which the prophet made, startling to her faith, but on the granting of which rested the continuance of her own life and that of her son. The poor woman, brought to the verge of despair, looks into the barrel of meal and finds but one handful, and at the cruse whose oil is almost spent. We can hear her say to the loved son, “My boy, we must prepare to die; but one more cake can be made. We will eat it and be gathered to your father's side.” Proceeding with the preparation, the prophet approaches and asks for water. She will not deny that he is a prophet, who asks and may bring a blessing, and water is at hand, but she is stopped by the added request, “Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.” She is eager to declare her inability to grant this request. Willingly would she give to a prophet of the Lord above all others, but, “As the Lord liveth, I have not a cake, but a handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse; and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it and die.” Surely, she thinks, he will not push his request, will go to the next dwelling to satisfy his hunger, will not ask even to share in so small a portion, of which two are already to partake; and she is therefore startled when, after this explanation, he makes a more selfish request, apparently, than before. “Go and do as thou hast said; but make me thereof a little cake first.” Had he understood that there was but little, hardly enough for one cake—surely not for two—and shall he have the first, the only one, and the household perish? He is a prophet of the Lord; he speaks to her with a “Thus saith the Lord” of a continuance of the little supply till rain and plenty shall come. Can she trust his word,—make for him the cake first? Here is the point of all her trust centered upon this word “first.” She would gladly give what was left, and even eat less herself, that he might have a little to remove hunger, but to make a cake first. She hesitates but to obey, and the barrel of meal does not waste, the cruse of oil holds on, and richer and more abundant blessings fall upon the widow's home. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God,” were the words of Jesus, and throughout the Scriptures is the emphasized call to place God first in all our plans, in all our offerings, in all our thoughts. Each one is called, out of his abundance, or out of his want, to make for his Lord a cake first—a good, generous cake. Here is the test of trust, and here the key to the prosperous lives of many who from weakness have risen to strength, from poverty have arrived at plenty—they made God first, and God did not suffer them to be last. Write it on the heart, God first—the way to prosperity. Engrave it where it can be seen in the moment of want. When hunger pinches, when the waves are boisterous, and the soul knows not where to turn, consult God first; when making plans for a year's work, for a year's donations, for the final distribution of property, fail not to put God first, and when sin overwhelms, and its burden is more than can be borne, oh! then remember, of all times, to look to God first, to ask of God first, to roll the burden upon God first.—S. H. VIRGIN, in Christian at Work.