The Lesson of the Widow

8 Then the word of the LORD came to him: 9 “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” 10 So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.”
 12 “As surely as the LORD your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”
13 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain on the land.’”
15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah.
1Kings17:7-15

At this time a severe drought had hit the land, the widow had all but depleted her resources when Elijah shows up - and he asks her to make him a loaf of bread with the little that was left before taking care of the needs of her family. She was at the end of her rope, and I don't know honestly whether she believed Elijah out of desperation or real faith but she did what he asked her, and just as he promised, the flour and oil supply never failed.
In lean times how do we respond in giving? Do we give out of abundance or our real need? This is yet another example of heavenly principles being inverted compared to worldly thinking. In Luke 21:1-4, Jesus observes the widow giving the 2 mites (cents) . It was all she had to live on, but out of devotion and faith she gave it all. the abundant life comes out of a place of need - and surrender.
We actually cheat ourselves when we withold giving, whether it be tithing to our church, or giving to others in need. By clinging what we think we "own", a selfish heart is revealed, and devotion to another master...beloved, God doesn't need our money, but he requires us to have pure hearts, free of idols, sold out to Him, and how we regard money is usually at the very top of the idol pyramid.
Jesus said " whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, whoever loses his life for my sake will find it". It's just like this with resources as well.
Make the Lord first, keep Him first, give freely of all that you have and are-this is abundant life.