Homiletic Review 2 Kings 2:9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said to Elisha, Ask what I shall do for you, before I be taken away from you… The giving fact of life is a fact permanent and wonderful. Steadily each of us is giving his fellows somewhat. I. VOLITIONALLY we may give — e.g., money, place, knowledge. Better than these, we may volitionally give a helping sympathy. II. But UNVOLITIONALLY, unconsciously, we are giving to our fellows; St. Peter's shadow (Acts 5:15). Every one of us is streaming upon his fellows an unconscious influence Our practical question is — What is the best gift any one can yield his fellows? I find the answer in our Scripture. 1. The best gift one can yield his fellows is character — the double portion of a noble spirit. 2. This fact, that the best gift we can yield our fellows is character, that the best service we can render them is the imparting of a noble spirit, has important applications — (1) To our friendships — noble friendships, as Elisha did with Elijah, we shall get nobleness. (2) To marriage. For the associations of marriage are the closest possible. And if each were noble, what nobleness has not each to each imparted? (3) To parent. hood. The character of the parent is reproduced in the child. (4) The great character-giver is Jesus Christ. There is no failure in Him, as there was, to some extent, in Elijah. (Homiletic Review.) Parallel Verses KJV: And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. |
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