Serving Refreshments

Serving Refreshments

The Woman From Shunem

Read: 2 Kings 4:8-10

I stretched my arms over my head and looked at the clock. I had been working at the computer for hours, and I needed some kind of pick-me-up. I scanned the refrigerator and cabinets—no pop, no ice cream, no cookies, no chips. I seemed to be out of the four basic food groups. I didn’t even have fruit. Walking to the mailbox, I pulled out a decorated envelope with familiar handwriting. My friend Alice had custom designed a card on her computer to tell me that she was praying for me. I returned to my work unbelievably refreshed.

The woman from Shunem knew how to refresh a weary traveler. She noticed that the prophet Elisha often looked fatigued as he passed by her house on his frequent trips. She knew his reputation as a man of God. So she prepared a guest room for him on the roof of her spacious home. As she furnished and decorated the room, her thoughts focused on the comfort, rest, and privacy the room would provide the elderly prophet. What a joy to be able to express her faith in God by offering refreshment for another person’s body and spirit.

We all need refreshment from time to time. God instituted a Sabbath day of rest so his people could be refreshed in body, mind, and spirit. Taking a break from our usual activities for even a brief quiet time of prayer and meditation on God’s Word recharges and strengthens us. We can also refresh one another with expressions of love and appreciation, encouragement, kindness, or practical help. Refreshing another person’s heart and spirit demonstrates our love for God. And as the woman in Shunem found out, any refreshment we offer to others renews our own spirits as well.

The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

Proverbs 11:25