Character of a Servant Part 2: The Shunammite Woman

Understanding Servanthood
Today’s Focus: Character of the Servant Part 2: The Shunammite Woman
Scripture: 2 Kings 4:8-17

Greetings Kingdom Citizens
This story particularly is one that really captures the heart of a servant and this is why we cannot ignore or throw out the Old Testament because there are examples and truths still being revealed within it. Now this is a unique story but it will explain a lot of what we discussed in the previous message. Remember the servant does not serve in anticipation of reward or pay. Can you imagine not placing any demands on God nor expectations but just serving Him? Sounds weird. To do this or to be in this frame of mind it requires total submission and surrender of your life to God. Are we called to do that? Of course! Romans 12:1,2 says for us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice. He does not say a part or a section but your entire body. Let’s get into this story and show the heart of the servant and how God responds to the servant.

Starting at 2 Kings 4:8 we see the prophet Elisha passing through Shunem and a woman would constrain him there to eat bread as often as he would pass by and Elisha would stop in and eat bread there. This woman was unique because she recognizes that Elisha is a holy man of God. Now this was not a one-time recognition because she said he passed through continually (2 Kings 4:9). Hence her spirit was sensitive to the Spirit of God to recognize this. Now in her heart she desires to make a chamber in the house with a bed, table, stool and candlestick so Elisha could rest comfortably (2 Kings 4:10). So far we have this Shunammite woman serving the prophet of God out of the kindness of her heart. Now Elisha calls his servant Gehazi to get the woman and bring her to him and watch how this plays out:

2 Kings 4:13: And he (Elisha) said unto him (Gehazi), Say now unto her, Behold thou hast been careful for us with all this care (serving); 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. And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, VERILY SHE HATH NO CHILD AND HER HUSBAND IS OLD.

Now when asked what can they do for her, she replied that she simply dwelled amongst her people. She did not quantify this answer with a selfish desire. God seeing this woman’s heart gives her a child, EVEN THOUGH SHE NEVER ASKED FOR ONE. Notice, no where in her response is there a request for a child, but God saw fit that she needed a child. This woman served the people of God without seeking a reward or pay and out of her kindness, God gives her a child. The giving of a child to a person is one of the best blessings but is also a call to the highest form of responsibility and stewardship, the care of his people who are his children.

The Shunammite woman is a great example of servanthood and the character that we should display in serving others. When you do not seek anything, God can give you anything and whatever God gives you, He has called you to manage or steward over that thing or person and give a account for what was given unto you.

In the next message we will look at the Divine Example of Servanthood. We will look at the Godhead and how the principal of servanthood is resident.

Peace, Love and Grace from the Father,
Calvin Calhoun, Jr.