Let’s read verses 8 to 13. Let’s read together from 2 Kings chapter 4, verses 8 to 13. One day, Elisha went to Shunem, where a wealthy woman urged him to eat some food. So whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat. And she said to her husband, “Behold, now, I know that this is a holy man of God who is continually passing our way. Let us make a small room on the roof with walls and put there for him a bed and a table and a chair and a lamp, so that whenever he comes to us, he can go in there.” One day he came there, and he turned into the chamber and rested there. And he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite.” When he had called her, she stood before him. And he said to her, “Say now to her, ‘See, you have taken all this trouble for us. What is to be done for you? Would you have a word spoken on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?’” She answered, “I dwell among my own people.” Amen.
Through our precious gatherings, we hope for deeper and richer connections. Dear friends, how can we enhance the beautiful fellowship among our congregation? With this heart, we have been having such meetings, and as we strive to make today’s Sunday message a more complete fellowship, I began to think about what is needed among our congregation. This is a message I saw during our Friday prayer meeting, and I wanted to address it again in today’s sermon. Consideration. Thoughtfulness. If we were to live our faith alone, it wouldn’t matter what form it takes. God loves and embraces all forms. However, you and I are limited beings, and we gather together as such. That person is different from me. Acting solely according to my own way, even if I think I’m doing it with good intentions, can often lead to discomfort for others. Therefore, consideration for others and the community means that even if I want to say or do something, I refrain from doing so, aligning my actions with the community and the individuals within it. This is what consideration is.
Last Sunday, we were blessed to be part of a wonderful praise gathering with the On Gi Jang Mission Team. When the praise team came, what was unique was that solo gospel singers express their own styles fully. That is also graceful and beautiful and draws people in. However, when five or eight people sing together, they seem to hold back their volume to about 50% or 60%. For example, when we were having a meal at Yahoe and they sang acapella to bless the meal, they all sang at about 50%. Since it was outdoors, it would have been nice if they sang louder so that everyone could hear, but they sang at their usual volume without a microphone, at about 50%. Why? Because they were restraining themselves to create harmony as a team. The On Gi Jang Mission Team has been around for 39 years, and the voice I heard 39 years ago when I first saw them is the same as now. The members have changed a lot, but their sound remains the same. So when a certain praise song comes on, I can tell it’s On Gi Jang. They significantly reduce their own sound. Why? To consider the tenors, basses, and sopranos, to create beautiful harmony, they restrain themselves. That is consideration.
Today, we see the Shunammite woman, and through the dialogue between her and the prophet Elisha, we learn what consideration looks like. In verse 8, it says, “One day, Elisha went to Shunem, where a wealthy woman urged him to eat some food.” This Shunammite woman invited the prophet Elisha. It’s like saying, “Pastor, please stop by our house for a meal.” However, it says she urged him. To urge means to strongly encourage. It’s not just a one-time request; it includes a sense of urgency, like “Please do come. I really want you to come.” This is all included in the word. Elisha initially said, “Oh, it’s okay. I’m fine,” and tried to pass by, but she insisted, “No, prophet, you must come to our house. Please do.” Because she urged him so earnestly, he agreed to come.
Now, why did this woman go to such lengths to invite a prophet who initially said he was fine? It’s because as a woman of faith, she recognized that this prophet was a holy man of God. She wanted to host him. However, she also understood the economic struggles of the prophet and his community. While he preached God’s word beautifully, it seemed like he had everything, but in reality, the prophets and the community he belonged to often faced hunger and had to fast not out of choice but out of necessity. They were people who prayed for the nation and the land, but they were also in financial hardship. So, she wanted to invite him for a meal, thinking, “It’s good to have him eat with us.” But when he said no, she didn’t stop there. She understood the dignity of the prophet and the community he belonged to, and she urged him to come for a meal.
Thoughtful consideration is not about giving something from my perspective. It’s about standing in the other person’s shoes and thinking about what they might need. And it goes a step further. When doing so, it also considers how that person might feel. Some might think, “What’s the big deal? If I give, they can eat, and that’s it.” But those who think like this can easily hurt others while trying to serve. It’s better not to do anything at all. The Bible has many verses about helping the poor, widows, orphans, and strangers. However, when giving, it should never be like tossing something to a beggar. We are called to consider their circumstances and help with what we can, keeping their feelings in mind. For instance, when harvesting grain, the Bible instructs not to glean the edges of the field. Why? Because those who are poor, orphans, and strangers would come behind to gather what was left. God instructed the Israelites to care for one another, not just to throw food or material goods at them but to have thoughtful consideration for the hearts of the vulnerable.
Among our church members, there are those who practice thoughtful consideration. When missionaries come, or last week when the On Gi Jang Mission Team visited, some members offered gifts for the missionaries and mission teams. That’s wonderful. Some individuals personally contributed. I remember when I was in seminary, I wasn’t poor, but I had friends who were genuinely struggling. There were those who had been kicked out of their homes for going to seminary. Back then, there was a coffee vending machine that cost 100 won. You could put in 100 won and get a cup. Some would put in 100 won and take a cup without taking it out, leaving it for someone who might not have 100 won. They would come and press the button to get a cup. Those who had would put in 100 won again. It was beautiful. In restaurants, there were small baskets where you could leave meal tickets for those in need. They would leave some tickets for friends who needed them. That is thoughtful consideration.
When we seek to serve others, we must do so with thoughtful consideration. Even if someone is materially or physically weak, they still have feelings. When receiving help, they can feel hurt. We must think about their feelings while helping. Instead of asking what I want to give, we should ask what that person needs.
Now, in verses 9 and 10, the woman speaks to her husband, saying, “I know that this man who continually passes by is a holy man of God. Let us make a small room for him and put a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp in it.” This conversation with her husband shows that she recognizes Elisha’s need. She sees that he has nowhere to stay properly and decides to prepare a room for him. She considers what Elisha might need and does what she can to provide it. Thoughtful consideration means taking the initiative to care for someone before they even ask. Elisha didn’t ask for food or a room; it was the woman’s thoughtful consideration that led her to provide for him.
When we send mission funds to missionaries, they often have projects, like building a mission house or running a children’s program. We send money with the hope that it will be used well for those purposes. However, when they receive the funds, they often feel guilty about using it for their living expenses. We think that when we send mission funds, it includes taking care of their families, but they often struggle with that. I’ve seen this and have intentionally sent funds for the missionaries and their families to enjoy a nice meal together. When I do this, they express their gratitude. This is because we are not only looking at the ministry but also at the people doing the ministry. That is thoughtful consideration.
Moreover, the woman uses the word “we” when speaking to her husband. She says, “Let us make a small room for him.” This woman is not acting alone; she is not just inviting the prophet out of her own enthusiasm. She realizes that it’s not something she can do alone, so she talks to her husband and invites him to join in. When her husband agrees, they both welcome the prophet together. This is beautiful. In any good deed, ministry, or beautiful work, it’s important that it doesn’t disrupt the hearts of our spouses. It should be a change that brings them along. This is undoubtedly a good intention. However, if the husband is not a believer, it could disrupt everything. In that patriarchal society, it would have been impossible. But the fact that the husband agreed shows that the wife had lived with consideration for him and built trust, allowing him to participate in this good deed.
The reason the woman and her husband could agree to do this beautiful work is that she recognizes Elisha as a holy man of God. She is not just doing something nice; she is helping someone chosen by God to proclaim His word in a dark time. She says, “Let’s do this because he is a holy man of God.” The Shunammite woman, having received God’s grace and love, wanted to help the prophet who was doing God’s work. This is how serving God becomes a reality.
In Matthew 25, Jesus said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” When we help those in need and care for fellow believers, we must consider why we do it. Many non-believers also engage in charitable acts, and they have their reasons. It’s a good and beautiful intention. However, as believers, when we help others and support God’s work, we must reflect on our motivations. This is God’s work. This person is a holy person of God. This work pleases God. It is within this confession of faith that we act. May your love flow to those whom God looks upon with favor.
Now, having seen the Shunammite woman’s thoughtful consideration, we must remember that God carefully remembers our service. Elisha calls Gehazi and says, “Call the Shunammite woman.” He then says in verse 13, “You have taken all this trouble for us. What can I do for you?” This expresses the woman’s thoughtful consideration perfectly. Elisha is grateful and asks how he can help her. The Shunammite woman first considered Elisha’s needs, and now Elisha is considering her needs. Typically, when we buy gifts, it’s easier to give to someone in financial difficulty. However, it can be challenging to know what to give to someone who seems to have everything. Elisha, thinking about the wealthy woman, wonders what she might need and asks, “Is there anything I can do for you? Do you want me to speak to the king or the commander of the army?” The woman replies, “I dwell among my own people.” This means she is living well among her people and has no worries. Elisha is relieved to hear this. She has no requests or complaints; she is serving out of love for God and His servant.
After the woman leaves, Elisha asks Gehazi, “What can we do for her?” Gehazi informs him that she has no son and that her husband is old. This indicates that she has given up on having a child. Elisha calls her back and tells her, “In about a year, you will embrace a son.” The Shunammite woman had not expressed her need for a child. God saw the pain she had not voiced. This is God’s careful provision. The son is born, bringing great joy. However, as the boy grows, he suffers a fatal headache. Elisha is called again, and he prays and revives the child. Later, in chapter 8, Elisha warns the woman about a coming famine, advising her to leave with her family. God’s careful heart continues to provide for her. He knows all the struggles she has faced and will face, and He provides for her with constant care.
The Bible says in Hebrews 6:10, “For God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them.” People can be unjust. We receive help but often forget it. Our memories fade, and we can overlook small acts of kindness. Even those who are kind-hearted may keep records of their good deeds, hoping to repay them. However, many people forget and are unjust. But the Bible assures us that God is not unjust; He remembers our actions and the love we have shown in serving others. Therefore, as you live with thoughtful consideration, even if you feel unrecognized, remember that God sees and remembers your efforts.
As we conclude, we must remember that Jesus Christ, who shows us the greatest thoughtful consideration, is our Lord. God, who carefully watched over the Shunammite woman, remembers you and me today. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to us, washing away our sins through His blood and allowing us to live with the power of His resurrection. He does not abandon us but sends the Holy Spirit to guide us. You must understand that while we might have left long ago, the Holy Spirit leads us to repentance and brings us back to God.
During His time on earth, Jesus displayed thoughtful consideration in many ways. For instance, as He passed through a town, Zacchaeus, a tax collector, climbed a tree to see Him. The crowd might have overlooked him, but Jesus stopped and called out, “Zacchaeus, come down! I must stay at your house today.” Zacchaeus didn’t call out to Jesus; he was simply seeking to fill the emptiness in his heart. Jesus recognized that emptiness and called him by name, showing thoughtful consideration.
Another example is the woman with the issue of blood. In a crowd, she reached out to touch Jesus’ garment, hoping for healing. Jesus felt power leave Him and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” He recognized her need and healed her.
In the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus, after teaching, noticed the crowd was hungry. He didn’t just send them away; He provided for their physical needs as well. He multiplied the loaves and fish, showing that He cares for both spiritual and physical needs.
Even on the cross, Jesus, while suffering, looked down at His mother and said, “Woman, behold your son,” showing His concern for her even in His final moments.
As we reflect on these examples, remember that the Jesus we believe in is the one who shows us thoughtful consideration. He came to this earth, and through His grace, He continues to guide us with the Holy Spirit. As we gather with family, fellow believers, and in our communities, may we be channels of grace and love, showing thoughtful consideration to those around us.
Let us pray. Close your eyes and reflect on these events. I remember a neighbor who moved back to Korea due to illness. I said, “It’s a shame; you were a good neighbor.” Afterward, I realized how foolish I was. They were a good neighbor, always thinking of others. But they were moving due to health issues. The next day, I met them again and said, “I respect your decision; it must have been hard to make. Take care.” They were very grateful.
No matter how good our intentions, we must think from the perspective of others. Let’s take a moment to pray, asking the Holy Spirit to help us live with thoughtful consideration like Jesus.
Heavenly Father, thank You. We have heard Your precious word with our beloved congregation, and I reflect on my heart, my words, and all my intentions. Lord, grant me grace so that Your precious word may deeply resonate within me, revealing my selfishness and the ways I may have hurt others while thinking I was doing good. Help me realize that You desire not just our service but our sincere hearts that flow from a desire to follow You. Thank You for the constant love and care You showed through the Shunammite woman and Elisha, and for the amazing love of Jesus Christ, who continues to care for us. May this love flow through us to our families, fellow believers, and neighbors.
In Jesus Christ’s name, I pray. Amen. Thank you. Let us sing hymn 455 as we offer our gifts to God. “Those who follow the Lord’s heart will find peace, and the strength to overcome the evil world will come from heaven. As I live in the Lord’s heart, I will also achieve His holiness. Even if I cannot hear the sweet sound of grace, my soul meets the Lord daily, learning His holy words.”
Heavenly Father, I desire to live by following Your heart. May the message given to our beloved congregation resonate deeply within each individual and flow into our families, small groups, and every aspect of our lives. We offer this precious gift to You, acknowledging that everything comes from You. With a confession of faith and gratitude, may it be pleasing to You, and may Your kingdom be strengthened wherever this gift is used.
As our beloved congregation goes through the week, may You heal any illness, difficulties, tears, and wounds in their spirits, breathing life into them and filling them with the Holy Spirit. Grant them the courage to see with faith and to live blessed lives that please You. Comfort those who have lost loved ones, and may they find solace in Your embrace.
Now, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us as we hold onto the word of the Lord and live in thoughtful consideration of His grace. I earnestly bless you all from now until forever. Amen.
