2 Kings 4: The Pattern of a Man of God

How does a man (or woman) of God live? What are the characteristics of his life? What sets him apart from those around him? In 2 Kings 4, we see Elijah referred to as a "man of God" eight times in this short chapter. However, what did he do to get this great title? How can we get this great title by following the example of Elijah?

If you were to read 2 Kings 4 (which you should), you would find Elisha doing 5 separate miracles. These miracles were not pointless but rather provided for those who were in need. He provides a widow with oil, a barren woman with a son, a woman with a dead son with a resurrected son, and a bunch of hungry boys with some food. In the end, we see the Elisha has the power of God as well as the kindness of God.

When we come to passages like this in scripture, we often struggle to find an application. However, scripture attests to itself that all scripture is useful (2 Timothy 3:16-17). We must remember when approaching the Bible that every verse has an application for every believer. And so, we apply this principle to our text today.

Yet, how do we find this application? Surely there is a bigger answer to this question than can be found in a short devotional, but in short, we apply the Bible by finding the underlying principle and then realizing its significance to our own lives. The underlying principle in 2 Kings 4 (or at least one of the underlying principles) is that men and women of God are kind and loving to those around them. Just as Elijah helped those who were in need, and he was called a man of God, so will we be if we are considerate to those around us. Thus, the significance for us is that we ought to be men and women of God today as well, as we seek to provide for the needs of those around us.

So, what needs do others around you have that you could be helping to meet? A mentor once encouraged me with the following phrase: "see a need, fill a need." What need have you seen that you haven't been a faithful man or woman of God in fulfilling? It may not be a lack of oil or a dead son, but perhaps it is a desperate teenager or a heartbroken sibling. If you call yourself a man or woman of God, you will, by the power of God, help provide for what they need.