... Elisha summoned Gehazi and said, 'Call the Shunammite.' And he did. When she came, he said, 'Take your son.' ...
Introduction: The Shunammite Woman's Legacy
The Bible is full of stories about people whose lives teach us how to live for God. One such person is the Shunammite woman. Her story, found in 2 Kings 4:8-37, shows us how to serve God selflessly, make wise choices, and trust God with our problems. Her life is a shining example of how we can bless our families and communities through faith.
In Matthew 10:42, Jesus says, “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” The Shunammite woman lived out this promise. She didn’t just offer a cup of water—she gave a room, hospitality, and her heart to God’s servant, Elisha. This sermon explores five lessons from her life that can help us bless our families and communities.
The Shunammite Woman's Legacy: Five Lessons
1. A Heart to Serve God
The first and most important lesson from the Shunammite woman’s legacy is her deep desire to serve God. She had a burning passion to do something for God’s work. This passion turned her from an ordinary woman into an extraordinary one. In 2 Kings 4:8, we read that she invited Elisha, a man of God, to her home and offered him a meal. This small act showed her love for God’s work.
When she saw Elisha, she recognized him as God’s servant. Her heart said, “I must do something for him.” She didn’t stop at just thinking about it—she acted. She and her husband built a small room on their roof, furnishing it with a bed, table, chair, and lamp (2 Kings 4:10). This act showed her commitment to serving God.
We need this kind of passion in our lives too. If we don’t have a desire to serve God, our lives can feel empty. Living just to eat, drink, and survive isn’t enough. A meaningful life is about serving God and touching lives. For example, a 70-year-old woman rented out three rooms in her house to non-believers. Through her kindness and godly behavior, she led those families to Jesus, and they were baptized. Despite her age and health, her passion for God drove her to make a difference. Can we serve God in our own way, no matter our situation?
2. The Gift of Discernment
The second key lesson from the Shunammite woman’s legacy is her discernment. She had the ability to recognize true servants of God. In 2 Kings 4:9, she told her husband, “I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God.” These words show her spiritual wisdom.
She also noticed Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, who came with him. But she saw that Gehazi didn’t have the same godly character as Elisha. She honored Elisha as a true man of God but was cautious about Gehazi. This discernment made her stand out. It’s part of what made her legacy so inspiring.
We need discernment in our lives too. Today, there are many teachings and preachers out there, but not all are true. Some teachings can harm our spiritual lives, while others can lift us up. We must learn to recognize true servants of God and follow them. The Bereans in Acts 17:11 checked Paul’s teachings against Scripture, and the Bible calls them noble. Like them, we should test what we hear and follow the truth. The Shunammite woman’s discernment helped her serve God rightly. Let’s pray for wisdom to follow true servants of God and grow spiritually.
3. Taking Risks for God
The third lesson from the Shunammite woman’s legacy is her willingness to take risks for God. Building a room for Elisha wasn’t just a kind gesture—it was a big risk. In those days, constructing a room and furnishing it was expensive. Yet, she took this step because she wanted to serve God.
She spoke to her husband, who respected her faith and wisdom, and he agreed to the plan (2 Kings 4:10). This risk paid off. Elisha used their home as a place of rest, and God blessed their family because of it. Her courage shows us that taking risks for God can lead to great blessings.
We need to take risks for God too. One family invited a servant of God to their home and turned it into a place of prayer. Over time, their home became a church. This risk blessed their family and community. Can we take a step of faith, no matter how small, to serve God? A single act of courage can lead to amazing results.
4. Selfless Faith and Service Without Expectation
The fourth lesson from the Shunammite woman’s legacy is her selfless faith. She served Elisha without expecting anything in return. When Elisha asked, “Can we do something for you? Should I speak to the king on your behalf?” she replied, “I have a home among my own people” (2 Kings 4:13). She didn’t serve Elisha to gain favors or rewards.
Her selfless faith made her legacy remarkable. She served out of love for God, not for personal gain. God saw her heart and blessed her with a son, something she hadn’t even asked for (2 Kings 4:17). Her story teaches us that true service comes from a pure heart.
We should serve God without expecting rewards. If we serve thinking, “If I give, God will give me more,” it becomes a transaction. Instead, our attitude should be, “God, I serve You because I love You.” Selfless service opens the door to God’s blessings, just as it did for the Shunammite woman.
5. Bringing Problems to God
The fifth and most powerful lesson from the Shunammite woman’s legacy is her habit of bringing problems to God. When her son fell ill and died, she didn’t share her pain with anyone—not even her husband. Instead, she laid her son on Elisha’s bed and went straight to Elisha (2 Kings 4:21-22).
When Gehazi asked if everything was okay, she said, “Everything is all right,” but poured out her heart to Elisha (2 Kings 4:26-27). Her discernment told her to share her problem only with the right person. Elisha prayed, and God brought her son back to life (2 Kings 4:33-35).
We should bring our problems to God too. When a pastor’s family was in a car accident, he didn’t panic or tell others. He fell to his knees and prayed. God saved everyone. This shows the power of bringing our troubles to God. Instead of sharing our problems with everyone, let’s run to God’s presence and trust Him to work miracles.
Prayer
Dear Jesus, thank You for the inspiring life of the Shunammite woman. Fill our hearts with a passion to serve You. Help us bless our families and communities through our faith. When problems come, give us the strength to run to You. Use us for Your glory. In Your name, we pray, Amen.
Bible References:
- Matthew 10:42
- “And if anyone
gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly
I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”
- “And if anyone
- 2 Kings 4:8-37
- 2 Kings 4:8: “One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do
woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal…” - 2 Kings 4:9: “She said to her husband, ‘I know that this man
who often comes our way is a holy man of God.’” - 2 Kings 4:10: “‘Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in
it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him…’” - 2 Kings 4:13: “Elisha said to him, ‘Tell her, “You have gone
to all this trouble for us. Now what can be done for you?…”’” - 2 Kings 4:17: “But the woman became pregnant, and the next
year about that same time she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told
her.” - 2 Kings 4:21-22, 26-27,
33-35: These verses cover the death and
restoration of her son.
- 2 Kings 4:8: “One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do
- Acts 17:11
(referenced for the Bereans’ discernment)- “Now the Berean
Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the
message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what
Paul said was true.”
- “Now the Berean
