Pot of Oil

On July 24, 2018, I sat in a funeral parlor next to Edith Hymas, facing the casket of her dead husband and my close friend. With her children and grandchildren in the room, my mind was taken back over 26 years ago. Glancing around the room, I was amazed at how Jerry D. Hymas’s self-reliance lessons he taught me over 26 years ago has had a great impact in his own family. I call these principles my “pot of oil.” After the funeral, while we were having some refreshments and visiting, I was curious to know how Jerry and Edith’s grandchildren were doing financially. They were all doing well, progressing steadily and cherishing the pot of oil principles they were taught by their grandfather and parents.

In 1992, just three years after Naume and I were married, when we were struggling with the basic necessities of life, a friend—Jerry Hymas from San Diego, California, USA—taught me a self-reliance principle that has made a difference in our lives, even in times of Zimbabwe’s economic meltdown, which we experienced from 2000 to 2008. Jerry said to me, “Eddie, here is a formula for financial success that has worked for me over the years and has enabled me to retire early. When you receive your paycheck, you (1) pay tithing, 10 percent; (2) pay 10 percent to yourself, and (3) pay 10 percent for emergency purposes.” Then he looked at me and said, “Never spend money you do not have.” Naume and I have tried to the best of our ability to follow this model, and it has blessed us tremendously. I recommend this to anyone, especially young couples.

I call these principles “pot of oil” because there is a story in the Old Testament about a widow who went to Elisha and cried for help. “Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord; and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen” (2 Kings 4:1). Is this not the cry that almost the whole African continent is crying for? There are no jobs, and almost everyone would like to get capital to start or expand a viable business. I was at a stake and ward council recently where we were talking about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Self-Reliance program. Despite the great principles taught on being self-reliant, most of our members still look for more and lament if only they could get a little capital. The question Elisha asked the widow is sometimes avoided by everyone, or the answer is just one word: “Nothing.” Here is the question: “What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house?” (2 King 4:2). Can you see? Elisha is helping this widow to understand that the assistance she was seeking for might be already in the house! This could be in a form of good health, sound mind, time, or a simple cell phone. I am convinced that if our members in the Church and our friends out there will grasp this simple, priceless principle, they will be able to be self-reliant and provide the necessities of life to their loved ones.

The widow’s response is that of desperation and surrender: “Thine handmaid hath not anything in the house, save a pot of oil” (2 Kings 4:2). Elisha showed her and helped her by teaching her some necessary skills to be self-reliant. Observe here how Elisha helps this widow to tap her full potential: “Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few” (2 Kings 4:3). Elisha put the widow in a way to pay her debt and to maintain herself and her family. Although this was done by miracle, see how he employed the best method to assist those who are in distress, which is, to help “people to help themselves” (see Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Heber J. Grant [2002], xxiii), to improve by their own industry with whatever little resources they might have. The Prophet Joseph Smith describes his pot of oil in this way, “As my father’s worldly circumstances were very limited, we were under the necessity of laboring with our hands, hiring out by day’s work and otherwise, as we could get opportunity. Sometimes we were at home, and sometimes abroad, and by continuous labor were enabled to get a comfortable maintenance” (Joseph Smith—History 1:55).

As we read further in 2 Kings 4:3–7, we learn that the oil, sent by miracle, continued flowing as long as she had empty vessels to receive it. It is our faith that fails, not His promise. He gives more than we ask: were there more vessels, there is enough in God to fill them; enough for all, enough for each; and the Redeemer’s all-sufficiency will only be stayed from our lack of faith in His redeeming power. Though the widow’s creditors were too hard with her, yet they must be paid, even before she made any provision for herself and her children. Elisha’s counsel to have the widow pay her debt first is a standing principle which prophets have taught us throughout the ages. “‘Pay thy debt, and live.’ How fruitful these words have ever been! What wise counsel they are for us today!” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson [2014], 271).

I am absolutely convinced that the three ”10 percents” mentioned above, if observed, would help sustain individuals and families in times of need. I invite you to take full advantage of the Church’s program of self-reliance and take advantage of your own pot of oil.