1. To help Elijah to deal with his discouragement and despair, God first provided him with food, water, and rest.  Now He gave him work to do.

2.  The importance of work:

-it is a gift to us, a part of creation before the Fall, an extension of God’s work

-it brings a sense of worth, accomplishment, dignity

-it brings the respect of our neighbors, essential to spreading the gospel

-the Bible warns against idleness

-by working we meet our own needs, as well as the needs of God’s work and others

-our purpose in work is to glorify God

3.  The third way God ministered to Elijah’s need was by providing him with someone to share the work.