As I have been thinking about these comments that seem to flow with great regularity these days, my mind was drawn to the story of Elijah and Elisha. The Lord told Elijah to anoint Elisha as his successor. He found Elisha working the land . "Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. Elisha left his oxen and ran after Elijah. 'Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,' he said, 'and then I will come with you.' 'Go back,' Elijah replied." (I Kings 9:19-20 NIV) Elisha went back, but he killed the oxen and burned his plowing equipment, leaving nothing for him to go back to. "Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant." (I Kings 9:21 NIV)
Little is said about Elisha until II Kings chapter 2, when Elijah is taken up to heaven. Three separate times in this passage Elijah tells Elisha to stay back, as he takes the journey he sent him on, and three separate times Elisha responded "as surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you." (II Kings 2:2, 4,6) In two of the towns they came to prophets said to Elisha, "'Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?' 'Yes, I know,' Elisha replied, 'so be quiet.'" It was after these exchanges that Elijah asked Elisha what he wanted from him. Elijah said he would only be granted his request of gaining a double portion of his spirit if he saw the Lord take Elijah up.
Several things about this story jump out at me. First, when Elijah threw his cloak on Elisha, Elisha could have stayed where he was. Elisha could have merely waited for Elijah to go to heaven, knowing that he was appointed to take his place. Instead, he became Elijah's servant, following him closely wherever he went, learning from his every move. Instead of waiting for an open position to be prophet, he spent his time learning from the man he respected. Second, he refused to leave Elijah's side. Too often in the church we see young people so eager to earn their place in leadership, that they will abandon the leaders they should be learning from. They use every outlet at their disposal to cut these men and women down and criticize their judgement, instead of having their back. Elisha stood by Elijah even when the journey was rough. Lastly, Elisha didn't entertain conversation from outsiders regarding Elijah. When they began gossiping about Elijah's future, his response was "be quiet". When we as young ministers hear negative commentary about our leaders; whether they be on a local, state, or international level we should be the one to end the conversation, not indulge it.
Because Elisha had done all this, his request for a double portion was granted. If we want the double portion, we have to put in the work on the front end. If we want successful ministries, we have to learn from those who have already been there. Instead of spending our time getting one another worked up about how things aren't fair and leaders are "out of touch", let's use this time while we wait to learn and grow, and become men and women who are worthy of the calling God has placed in us.
Little is said about Elisha until II Kings chapter 2, when Elijah is taken up to heaven. Three separate times in this passage Elijah tells Elisha to stay back, as he takes the journey he sent him on, and three separate times Elisha responded "as surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you." (II Kings 2:2, 4,6) In two of the towns they came to prophets said to Elisha, "'Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?' 'Yes, I know,' Elisha replied, 'so be quiet.'" It was after these exchanges that Elijah asked Elisha what he wanted from him. Elijah said he would only be granted his request of gaining a double portion of his spirit if he saw the Lord take Elijah up.
Several things about this story jump out at me. First, when Elijah threw his cloak on Elisha, Elisha could have stayed where he was. Elisha could have merely waited for Elijah to go to heaven, knowing that he was appointed to take his place. Instead, he became Elijah's servant, following him closely wherever he went, learning from his every move. Instead of waiting for an open position to be prophet, he spent his time learning from the man he respected. Second, he refused to leave Elijah's side. Too often in the church we see young people so eager to earn their place in leadership, that they will abandon the leaders they should be learning from. They use every outlet at their disposal to cut these men and women down and criticize their judgement, instead of having their back. Elisha stood by Elijah even when the journey was rough. Lastly, Elisha didn't entertain conversation from outsiders regarding Elijah. When they began gossiping about Elijah's future, his response was "be quiet". When we as young ministers hear negative commentary about our leaders; whether they be on a local, state, or international level we should be the one to end the conversation, not indulge it.
Because Elisha had done all this, his request for a double portion was granted. If we want the double portion, we have to put in the work on the front end. If we want successful ministries, we have to learn from those who have already been there. Instead of spending our time getting one another worked up about how things aren't fair and leaders are "out of touch", let's use this time while we wait to learn and grow, and become men and women who are worthy of the calling God has placed in us.
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