How to Go from Not Enough to More than Enough

2 Kings 4:1–7 Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” 2 And Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me; what have you in the house?” And she said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” 3 Then he said, “Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few. 4 Then go in and shut the door behind yourself and your sons and pour into all these vessels. And when one is full, set it aside.” 5 So she went from him and shut the door behind herself and her sons. And as she poured they brought the vessels to her. 6 When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another.” Then the oil stopped flowing. 7 She came and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest.” (ESV)

1. Margin is what I have beyond what I need

Proverbs 21:20 The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down (NIV)

2. When margin goes down, stress goes up

Ephesians 5:15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise (NIV)

Proverbs 6:6–8 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! 7 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, 8 yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest (NIV)

Ecclesiastes 4:6 Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil (NIV)

3. Margin has more to do with my mindset than my money

Proverbs 21:20 The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get (NLT)

Proverbs 23:5 Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle (NIV)

Proverbs 13:11 Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow (NIV)

4. Margin allows you and I to live on mission

Proverbs 22:7 The borrower is slave to the lender (NIV)

2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work (NIV)

2 Corinthians 9:10-11 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God (NIV)