GoldSash

A number of years ago I was asked to be the speaker at a special banquet in honor of newly ordained ministers. I asked my wife Stefanie to help me on a project. She is very good with crafts. We went to a craft supply and purchased the items needed to make a Bible that would fit on the bookshelf in each of their libraries. We painted it to appear just like any other Bible you would have in your collection. The Bible was made of cardboard and was hollow. In it we recreated the Elisha Room of 2 Kings 4:10. There was a little chair, and a tiny table. And a bed with a little end table that had a lantern on it. It was very simple and primitive looking. And on the inside cover, which served as the lid to the room, was etched in calligraphy, "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. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us." 2 Kings 4:10

The night of the banquet I arrived early and hid the five gifts in the wooden podium. No one knew they were there. I will never forget the reaction in the room as I pulled out the boxes, handed them to each ordainee and said, "Tonight I would like you to open your Bibles, literally, to 2 Kings 4:10."

I spoke of the four crucial components in the life of the ordained minister. The chair - There will be many meetings to chair over the course of your ministry. Lead with integrity, bravery and excellence. The table - Never neglect your study desk. Keep learning, stay sharp, be relevant. Get stretched. Take your people on a journey. The lamp - It symbolizes the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Keep your lamp trimmed and filled with oil. Let your prayer-life be fervent. This will enable your light to shine brilliantly. And the bed - You need rest. You need it regularly and systematically. Find outlets. Take vacations. Have retreats. Don't run on empty for long stretches of the journey because you cannot feed your people out of that place.

In a sense the Elisha Room speaks to us all, not just prophets. Lead with excellence. Study to show yourself approved. Keep the prayer lamp burning. Stay rested and refreshed. Have you visited that room lately? Could you stop by today?