Mrs Karen Caviness
Pastor's Wife
Victory Baptist Church
Roseburg, OR
Characteristics of “A Great Woman”
II Kings 4:8-37
Not many people have a life goal of being below average or barely adequate. They don’t wake up in the morning, jump out of bed and say, “Today I’m going to diligently strive to be mediocre.” I don’t want to be an average wife; I want to be a great wife. I don’t want to be a mediocre mom; I want to be a great mom. So when I read this passage and Elisha describes the woman from Shunem as a great woman, then I want to look at her life and her characteristics and learn from her.
I. She didn’t let disappointment make her despondent.
We see from this story that her husband was old but they never had any children (vs.14). This had to be a great disappointment to her. Disappointment can be a result of many different things but all are a result of unmet expectations. “I expected to be married my now. I expected to have children. I thought our standard of living would be higher by this time in our life. I expected my husband to be more romantic. I never expected to be fighting this disease.” If the devil had his way we would let the disappointment make us despondent. We would get our eyes on self. This great woman didn’t do that. She found a ministry and a way to be a blessing. She didn’t focus on her needs but on how she could be used to help meet the need of someone else. Each time Elisha came through town he knew he could count on a good meal.
II. She looked for a way to be a blessing to the man of God.
When she saw that Elisha passed through her town often, she wanted to do more for him than feed him. She set a good example for us by talking to her husband about it first. They made a little chamber for him with a bed, a table, a stool and a candlestick in it. It was a great help and blessing to him. What are some ways we as ladies can be a blessing to the man of God in our church? We can be faithful and available to the ministries available to us. Joyfully work in the nursery. Decorate for banquets and special events. Mentor and disciple new Christian ladies. Keep a good spirit and don’t be easily offended.
III. She learned to trust through the storm.
Elisha and his servant, Gehazi, had a discussion about what they could do to repay this great woman for her kindness (vs. 14). She didn’t want notoriety (vs 13). They decided a child would be a blessing to her. They told her about this season she would have a son. She did conceive and bare a son. He was the joy of her life. But one day he went out to see his father in the field. He cried, “My head, my head!” They carried him to his mother and he sat on her knees until noon and then he died. She laid him on the bed of the man of God, went out and shut the door. She hurried to see Elisha. When they saw her coming Elisha sent Gehazi to meet her and to ask if all was well. She answered, “It is well.” She didn’t know what God was going to do, but she was determined to trust him through the storm. Elisha went to the child, God worked a miracle and gave the child back his life. We all will go through storms in our life. Will we be like the great woman and trust God through the storm. Sometimes, as in the case of this story, God chose to calm the storm. But other times God chooses to calm his child in the midst of the storm. Either way, will you be able to say, “It is well.”
When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Don’t be content to be a mediocre Christian woman. Learn from this lady and strive to be a great woman.
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