The Barrel of Meal Wasted Not
C.H. Spurgeon's sermon highlights God's unwavering provision and faithfulness in times of need, as exemplified by the widow during famine.
C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the unwavering faithfulness of divine love through the story of a widow during a time of famine who, despite her dire circumstances, finds her needs met daily from a seemingly empty barrel of meal and cruse of oil. He reassures listeners that, like the widow, they too will experience God's constant provision, regardless of the multitude of their needs or the severity of their trials. Spurgeon encourages believers to trust in God's grace and mercy, which will sustain them through life's challenges, ensuring they will never truly lack. He contrasts the security found in God's provision with the fleeting nature of worldly wealth and confidence, urging reliance on divine guardianship over material possessions.
Text
See the faithfulness of divine love. You observe that this woman had daily necessities. She had herself and her son to feed in a time of famine; and now, in addition, the prophet Elijah was to be fed too. But though the need was threefold, yet the supply of meal wasted not, for she had a constant supply. Each day she made calls upon the barrel, but yet each day it remained the same. You, dear reader, have daily necessities, and because they come so frequently, you are apt to fear that the barrel of meal will one day be empty, and the cruse of oil will fail you.
Rest assured that, according to the Word of God, this shall not be the case. Each day, though it bring its trouble, shall bring its help; and though you should live to outnumber the years of Methuselah, and though your needs should be as many as the sands of the seashore, yet shall God's grace and mercy last through all your necessities, and you shall never know a real lack. For three long years, in this widow's days, the heavens never saw a cloud, and the stars never wept a holy tear of dew upon the wicked earth: famine, and desolation, and death, made the land a howling wilderness, but this woman never was hungry, but always joyful in abundance.
So shall it be with you. You shall see the sinner's hope perish, for he trusts his native strength; you shall see the proud Pharisee's confidence totter, for he builds his hope upon the sand; you shall see even your own schemes blasted and withered, but you yourself shall find that your place of defence shall be the munition of rocks: "Your bread shall be given you, and your water shall be sure." Better have God for your guardian, than the Bank of England for your possession. You might spend the wealth of the Indies, but the infinite riches of God you can never exhaust.
Sermon Outline
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I
- The faithfulness of divine love
- Daily necessities during famine
- The role of the prophet Elijah
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II
- The constant supply from the barrel
- Fear of lack in times of need
- God's assurance of provision
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III
- The widow's experience of abundance
- Comparison with the sinner's hope
- The stability of God's grace
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IV
- The futility of worldly trust
- God as a true guardian
- The inexhaustible riches of God
Key Quotes
“You shall see the sinner's hope perish, for he trusts his native strength.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Better have God for your guardian, than the Bank of England for your possession.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Your bread shall be given you, and your water shall be sure.” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- Trust in God's provision during difficult times, knowing He will meet your needs.
- Recognize the futility of relying on worldly possessions for security and stability.
- Embrace the abundance of God's grace, which is always available and never runs dry.