阅读经文 

穷人在今天的境况，和以利沙年代那个寡妇的窘境同样真实存在。寡妇面对贫穷和剥削、无助和绝望。留意以利沙如何应对这个危机，他让她参与去探索可持续的收入来源，来维持她自己和儿子未来的生活。

昨天我们明确了应付眼前需要的重要性，然而我们也知道，更大的问题往往要用较长线的办法来解决。

以利沙的做法侧重寡妇的能力、邀请她直接参与、也让她的邻舍有份帮忙，把她“仅有的一瓶油”变为家庭手工业来维持生计。

以绷带裹伤固然有效用，然而，若要帮助人找到新的起点和脱贫的途径，他们便需要有新的技能、知识和机会。

透过教导可持续发展的农业科技、营养和保健、读写和计算能力、领导力和正当运用人权，很多组织和人士都在“教导人捕鱼”，我为他们感谢神，他们这样做，是要彰显神的爱并获得祂所期望所有人都应获得的丰盛生命。

你有没有考虑过要去支持这些事工呢？

The widow’s dilemma can be as real today as it was in Elisha’s time. She faced poverty and exploitation, hopelessness and despair. Notice that Elisha responded to this crisis by engaging her in finding a sustainable income to support herself and her sons.

Yesterday we affirmed the importance of meeting immediate needs. But we also know that bigger problems often call for more sustainable solutions.

Elisha’s response to the widow respects her abilities, invites her participation, engages her neighbors, and transforms her “nothing but a little oil” into a cottage industry to support her family.

While bandages have their uses, new skills, knowledge, and opportunities are needed to help people find new beginnings and pathways out of poverty.

I thank God for the many organizations and people who are “teaching people to fish” by teaching sustainable agriculture, nutrition, and health care, literacy and numeracy skills, leadership and human rights—and who do all that as an expression of God’s love and his desire for abundant life for all people.

Have you considered supporting such important work?