2 Kings 4:8

 2 Kings 4:8 says, And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.  As Elisha was going past Shumen, a great woman, or a woman of importance caused him to eat with her.  He began to eat there whenever he passed that way.  She was showing a great kindness to him.  We need to be willing to help those doing God's work today as often as we can.  Verse nine adds, And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.  She then talked to her husband about Elisha.  She didn't do these things without his knowledge.  Husbands and wives should always talk about things before decisions are made.  Verse ten continues, Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.   The woman proposed making a room for Elsha to stay in anytime he passed that way.  She had said that she perceived him to be a holy man, and she wanted to help him for whatever reason.  As already state, we should be ready to help those who are doing God's work today, especially preachers and missionaries, in any way God leads us to do.  Verse eleven states, And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there.  Verse twelve adds, And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him.  One day, as Elisha turned in to stay in the chamber, he had Gehazi, his servant to call the Shunamite woman.  Evidently, his servant travelled with him, but I am not sure if he stayed in the chamber as well, but I sure that God provided for him.  Verse thirteen continues, And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people.  Elisha asked the woman what he could do for her because of all her kindness toward him.  He offered to speak about her to the king, likely to provide a material blessing for her, but he didn't say anything about speaking to God for her.  He may have wanted to see what was really important to her.  We may not be able to help people materially or physically today, but we can always go to God in prayer for them.  She also said she dwelt among her own people, and as followers of Christ we should live as a part of His family and not be looking to the world for satisfaction.  Verse fourteen declares, And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old.  Gehazi told Elisha that the woman and her husband had no child, and the implication would be that this would be what she really wanted.  She was not helping Elisha to benefit herself and her husband, but out of true compassion, and this should be our attitude when we help others today.  Verse fifteen adds, And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door.  She had evidently left without asking Elisha for anything, so he sent Gehazi to get her once more.  Gehazi called her and she came and stood at the door.  For her to enter his chamber might have caused a scandal, so she didn't go in.  We need to avoid even the look of impropriety in our interactions with others today.  Verse sixteen continues, And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid.  Elisha told her, without her ever really asking, that the next year she would embrace a son, and she asked him not to lie to her.  She may have thought it physically impossible for her to have a child and have given up hope.  Some people today, when we share the gospel, will refuse to believe because they continue to look by sight and not by faith.  Verse seventeen concludes, And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.  The woman conceived and had a son just as Elisha said she would.  If we are sharing God's word with people, it is always going to be fulfilled in His time.