Read: 2Kings 1:1-2:25, Acts 13:42-14:7, Psalm 139:1-24, Proverbs 17:19-21

When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”
“Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.
“You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said. (2 Kings 2:9-10)

Relate: A portion of Elijah’s spirit is not like mashed potatoes. I’ve got a plate at Thanksgiving and someone scoops a portion of mashed potatoes on it. My brother Jordan loves potatoes so much he says, “I want a double portion” so they give him two scoops. Elijah had a portion of the spirit, Elisha asked for and received twice as much. No. That’s not a double portion.

A double portion goes more like this: I am the second of eight kids in my family, the oldest of the four boys. Had we been born in ancient Hebrew times, when my father died I would have received the double portion. The land and inheritance would have been divided up five ways, my three younger brothers would have each received one fifth and I would have received two fifths, or two portions of the inheritance. More than that, I would now step into his role as patriarch for my family, the family name would rest on my shoulders. I would become the inheritor or successor of all that my father was. In being more loose with the literal translating, the NLT was able to better underscore the cultural understanding when it translates verse nine: And Elisha replied, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor.”

React: Elijah responded, “You have asked a hard thing.” Not necessarily a hard thing to grant, but a hard thing to live up to. Elijah’s life was not an easy one. His task and his calling were tough. But Elisha knew this. He knew what would be asked of him as successor because he had faithfully served in the background. For years Elisha has been faithfully following his mentor. In all that time, this is everything we have recorded of what he has said to Elijah:
First let me go and kiss my father and mother good-bye, and then I will go with you.
As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you.
As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you.
As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you.

How faithfully am I willing to serve another? Moses with Joshua, Eli with Samuel, Elijah with Elisha, Jesus with Peter, Paul with Timothy, time and again we see the vital importance of investing that double portion. We see the role of master to servant, mentor to student used to carry on the will and purpose of God from one generation to the next. The key to successfully continuing a legacy of faith can be summed up in these two questions: “Who is my mentor?” and “Who am I mentoring?”

Respond: 

God, help me to understand that living for my generation is not enough. There is much I have to learn from those that have gone before and much I have to teach to those that come behind. Help me to be a diligent follower and student of those who have gone before that I might be ready to inherit that double portion when it is time to pass the mantle. Help me in turn to find those that I might invest in so what You are doing in my time will not be lost by those who follow. Let Your name be praised through all generations.