The Scripture texts read in your hearing are 2 Kings 4.1-7 and Matthew 15.21-28. Our topic today is A Mother’s Priorities.

I. Mothers who prioritize their children walk in humility. (v1)
a. While her husband was alive, she probably had a comfortable life. Now, the creditors were at the door.
b. Sanctioned slavery – indentured servants
c. She prioritized her boys and was humble enough to ask for help.
d. She (we) must go to the right person or people. Not just anybody.
e. A pagan woman went to Jesus for help even though she was not a part of the lost sheep of Israel. (Matt 15.21-25).
f. Mothers who prioritize their children walk in humility.

II. Mothers who prioritize their children are willing to be part of the solution. (vv2-4)
a. Notice how the prophet of God asked her how could he help? Then he asked her what resources did she have?
b. She only had a little. But God can multiply the little that we have. Remember the boy with the five loaves of bread and two fish? Jesus blessed what he had and fed over 5000.
c. God may tell us to use what we have. The widow was told to ask her neighbors for plenty of empty jars, as many as she could get. She was to take her little oil and fill all the jars.
d. Think about the absurdity in this. If she paused to ponder what her neighbors would think, she could not become a part of the solution. What you are doing makes no sense… in the natural. It makes perfect sense in the spiritual because the instructions came from the LORD.
e. And like this widow, your miracle may come behinds shut doors (privately) because it is not meant to be a public spectacle. There are times when God calls us to pray in secret, to go into our prayer closets, and then become a part of His solution.
f. Even the pagan mother in Matt 15 suggested that she gather the crumbs from the master’s table. She was willing to be part of the solution. Why?
g. Because mothers who prioritize their children are willing to be part of the solution.

III. Mothers who prioritize their children will reap the benefits of faith and obedience. (vv5-7).
a. She gathered the jars. They had plenty. Her sons were part of the solution with her. They were inside obediently following the LORD’s directions with no outside interference.
b. As long as there was a jar to be filled, the oil kept flowing.
c. Notice this. The man of God did not gather the jars. He did not go into the house and pronounce a blessing. He conveyed God’s message. Now the mother had to act on it or not.
d. She showed her faith and obedience. The oil only stopped flowing when the last jar was filled.
e. She told the man of God she had obediently and faithfully followed the instructions. Now she had to continue the work by selling the jars of oil and pay off all her family’s debts.
f. Because of her faith and obedience, God not only met her needs but blessed her with abundance. She and her children were able to live off the excess.
g. The pagan woman in Matt 15 reaped the benefits of her faith in Jesus. Listen to how the LORD responded. Matt 15.28 NIV Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
h. Mothers who prioritize their children will reap the benefits of faith and obedience.

Conclusion: Do you see how these mothers prioritize their children? They walked in humility and sought help from the right people. They both were willing to be part of the solution. They were willing to do whatever it took as the LORD instructed. And because of their faith and obedience, they reaped the benefits (the blessings) of a breakthrough. And so can you.