It Is Enough

Scripture: Matthew 10:40 – 42

40 “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous, 42 and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”

Sermon Outline

(There is not an audio recording of this sermon available.)

Introduction

1 Kings 17 tells the story of Elijah and the widow from Zarephath.
Point: Elijah did amazing things, but without the widow…NOTHING.

This is what today’s Scripture is about. It’s hope and promise for those of us who aren’t the Elijah’s in the world.
It’s also about hospitality – welcome.

Part 1: Starting at the end — What’s the reward referenced?

Look to the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12.

The reward promised prophets and the righteous = the kingdom of heaven.

BUT it’s not just for the prophets and the righteous ones. The same reward is for whoever welcomes a prophet or a righteous person. (It’s interesting to think that the reward wasn’t just for Elijah, but also for the widow from Zarephath, even though she wasn’t part of God’s people.)

Part 2: What does this welcome look like?

Hospitality:  We tend to think hospitality is fancy food, pretty decor, a good mix of people, etc. BUT the widow had none of these things, and we would definitely say she welcomed Elijah. The widow simply shared what she had.

So often, all we see is what we don’t have, but what DO you have? Maybe it’s not a physical thing; maybe what you have to share is you – your presence, your friendship, your listening ear, your prayers, etc.

Conclusion

“We don’t have to be great heroes of the faith. We don’t have to be prophets like Elijah, or missionaries like Paul, or evangelists like Billy Graham, or great teachers or preachers or worship leaders. Be the widow who shared the little she had. Be the one with the cold cup of water. Rather than focusing on what we don’t have and can’t do, let’s consider what we do have — how we can welcome. What you have is enough. Who you are is enough.”