Index 3
Amazing Maze, Page 79
THE PUMP
There was a man who was lost in the desert. He had traveled many days and had run out of water. As he was walking , he saw up ahead what looked like an oasis. As he came closer, sure enough it was no mirage, it was an oasis. There by some palm trees was of all things a water pump. By the pump was a bucket of water. Fastened to the pump was a sign that said “There is a bucket of water to prime the pump. When you leave, please draw water for the next person who uses the pump”.

What thoughts must have run through the mans mind when he saw the sign. Should I trust that the pump is working alright? If the pump doesn’t work I will lose the one bucket of water that I do have. If I use the water to prime the pump and it works, I will have plenty of water till someone rescues me.

Have you ever been in a situation like this? Do I use up what I have in my hand or do I take a chance and invest it in the future?

Someone once said, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket“. This may be a wise saying in some ways, but what about putting everything in God’s basket? Taking a chance in this world could cause you to lose everything. But God is always faithful, He has never let anyone down, ever, and He never will.

Psalm 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

Can we trust God with everything we have, isn’t it God who gave it all to us to start with? Here are some people who trusted God and gave it all.
                                  

                                 THE POOR WIDOW

Mark 12:41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
Mark 12:42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
Mark 12:43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
Mark 12:44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

                                   
                                   
THE HUNGRY WIDOW
Kings I 17:12 And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.
13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
14 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.
15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.
16 And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.


What did the man with the bucket of water at the well do? What would  you do in his situation? How much of what you have do you trust to God’s faithfulness?
By H. Witmyer