In the context, Jezebel and the king declared idol worship in the land. Elijah prophetic declared a shutting of the heavens and there was no rain.

God preserved Elijah in this time. He sends him to a widow in this time of famine who was bent on suicide with her son.

She was commanded to provide for Elijah but her circumstances had prevented her from hearing this.

God uses every circumstance both good and bad to speak to us.

Elijah came to the widow and told her to provide for her. The widow spoke her intention in her frustration.

Elijah told her not to be afraid and provide for him. In turn, Elijah prophetically declared her flour and oil would not run dry until the rain returned.

“For thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.’ ” So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah.”
‭‭I Kings‬ ‭17:14-16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:38‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ””
‭‭Acts‬ ‭20:35‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

If the widow had not obeyed in sacrificial giving, she would not have seen the breakthrough of provision. Her sacrificial giving was special, like giving to Elijah’s mission.

The church in Philippians gave sacrificially to Paul.

“Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:17-18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

We are blessed in our blessing of others.

Paul defines giving as such.

Giving is a sweet smelling aroma and an acceptable sacrifice that is well pleasing to God.

The widow’s oil and flour didn’t run dry because of her sacrificial, obedient giving.

Missions giving is special to God.

Mission giving triggers the pleasure of God

Mission is all about reaching to people which triggers the delightfulness of God. God rejoices with all of heaven over one soul that is lost comes to the Kingdom of God. (Luke 15:20-23)

This offering is a well accepted sacrifice. Missions giving always triggers sacrifice on our part.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.”
‭‭John‬ ‭12:24‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Missions giving is well pleasing to God. Missions giving triggers obedience, similarly to how Jesus submitted in obedience to John the Baptist for baptism.

“Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.””
‭‭Mark‬ ‭1:11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

If the widow’s flour and oil did not run dry, what is the promise for us?

“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Tithing to God brings the Lordship over our finances and blesses our 90%.