Dream Big!

As Elijah neared the end of his life, he turned to his protégé’, Elisha, and said: “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you” (2 Kings 2:9 HCSB). Elisha was stood ready to ask. Probably thought Elijah would never ask. But, finally his opportunity came.

He had witnessed Elijah calling down fire from heaven. He had seen him pray for a draught that parched the landscape. He had seen him call for rain from heaven and down it came. People were raised from the dead; food was made available for certain individuals in the midst of severe famines. Elisha had seen miracle after miracle performed.

Because of all these things, Elisha could have asked for great riches. He could have asked for many possessions. He could’ve asked for just about anything his imagination could’ve conceived, but that was not Elisha. Elisha wasn’t thinking about what Elisha could get for himself; rather, he was thinking about what he could use for the sake of those around him.

I suppose if you walked up to people on the street and offered them anything they could desire or ask for, most would desire worldly possessions or things the world would consider to be great and awesome. That is the selfishness that plagues mankind in today’s possession-filled world. But, Elisha had a different outlook.

His response to Elijah was “Please, let there be a double portion of your spirit on me” (v. 9). Unfounded in today’s world. Everything he could’ve asked for and that is it? What a crazy guy the world would say to Elisha for what he desired to have.

Many of you out there probably could’ve thought of something better than that to wish for but I have to tell you, Elisha dreamed big—Really Big! His thoughts, intents and heart were not concerned with what he could gain in the here and now but rather what he could do for the sake of the kingdom of God. Elisha knew that’s all that really matters. In the end, it doesn’t matter what possessions you might accumulate, it is only the souls of those you have impacted for Jesus that will matter.

Are you building your kingdom here and now that will one day pass away or are you building up the kingdom of God that will last forever? Think about it!