We’re in the series on the seven conversations with Jesus that preceded His "sign" miracles in John’s Good News account.
The setting for this week’s conversation between Christ and his disciples and the performance of his miracle is simple. Thousands of people had been listening to Christ’s teaching for days. He had tried to get into the wilderness for some rest but they kept following him. Now they’re all out in the boondocks with no groceries! Everyone is starving. Demand was high but supply was low. Kind of like our current high-cost-of-gasoline woes.
Before the people perish with hunger Jesus takes matters into his own hands. GOD ALWAYS HAS A PLAN! Nothing ever catches him by surprise. We’ve seen some wrangling over the response to Hurricane Katrina the last couple of weeks. Was the response plan a good one? Did everyone follow it? A lot of people were concerned that local, state and federal authorities didn’t repond quickly enough. But no one will ever be able to point a finger of blame at God for not having a good plan. No one will ever be able to say that he didn’t initiate his plan on time.
This conversation between Jesus and his disciples reveals a wonderful plan. And the good news is not just for the hungry multitude in Jesus’ day! The plan is for you!
MEANS TO LIVE BY WHEN YOUR RESOURCES ARE RUNNING LOW:
1. BE A GOOD MANAGER, EVEN IF ITS ONLY WITH A SMALL AMOUNT.
While Jesus had a plan, the disciples had been caught unprepared.
We can at least give some credit to Andrew. He was often finding people and bringing them to Jesus. In this case Andrew said to Jesus, "There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?" (Verse 8)
Andrew’s comment seems somewhat resigned to futility. "What good is such a small amount with such a huge need?" Ever felt that way? You look at your need and look at your resources and they just don’t balance out? What do you do when that happens?
Jesus intentionally used a small amount to authenticate his miracle. A young boy - a small lunch. You don’t have to be a big shot for God to use you. You don’t have to have a gazillion dollars! Just be available! God is big even if your resources aren’t!
Put in historical context, the "loaves" were more like pancakes and the fish were probably pickled and more like a relish you would put on the bread. What good would that be to this huge crowd? You could probably make about five people a snack with this resource. But there were a thousand times five to feed - and that’s just counting the men! (Verse 10) With women and children present (and we know they were present because of the mention of this little boy with his food) the crowd could have swelled anywhere from ten to twenty five thousand!
Before implementing his plan Jesus initiated another of his problem-solving conversations with his disciples by using another of his thought-provoking questions: "Philip, where can we buy bread to feed all these people?" (Verse 5) John comments: "He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do." (Verse 6)
Why was Philip the disciple to be tested with the question? Perhaps because from Philip’s answer we see that he especially needed to witness this miracle. Verse 7 - Philip replied, "It would take a small fortune to feed them!" Maybe he was just representative of all of the rest of the disciples and all of us.
Philip did the math. He calculated that it would take about two-thirds of a year’s wages to buy enough food to feed this multitude of people. He was very sure of what could NOT be done but he had no vision of what could be done.
Sometimes God allows our resources to subside in order to test and consequently increase our level of trust in him. When your resources are running low you need to learn to stop putting your trust in material provisions and learn to put it in God. You need to learn that life is not just numbers. Life is trusting God for your resources - realizing that every resource comes from the hand of God in the first place.
Concurrently, you need to wisely oversee the resources God has already given you - even if the resources you have don’t seem to you to be enough.
Five "barley" loaves means they weren’t the "name brand" - they weren’t "wheat" loaves - they were the less expensive, less desirable bread made from a cheaper grain. This signifies that the boy probably came from a humble home. Jesus used this boy and his meager fare to prove an essential truth: little is much IF God is in it!
The main question in time of need is not just "what do I have?". The fundamental question is, "Is God in it?" Is God in what I have? Is he in my plans? Is he in all of my activities? Do I go to God with my need of daily bread or am I living my life independent of trust in God?
God can help you make a meager fare go farther than you can make a large fare go on your own!
Some become discouraged when resources run low - so discouraged that they frivolously spend away the little they have without applying it to the needs set before them. This miracle teaches us to not despair. It teaches us that, with God’s help, we can prevail over our depleting resources!
The miracle Christ performed was real, and it was immensely astounding, but its purpose is not just to lay the groundwork for believing in Jesus as the Son of God. It certainly does that as one of the seven hand-picked "signs" of John in his Good News account. But there is also the lesson of making a little go a long way.
One of the most practical things you can do in life when resources are running low is be a good manager of what you have, even if it’s a small amount.
A famous art collector was walking through the city when he noticed a mangy cat lapping milk from a saucer in the doorway of a store. He did a double take - because he realized that the saucer was an extremely old and very valuable work of art. So he walked casually into the store and offered to buy the cat for two dollars. The storeowner replies, "I’m sorry, but the cat isn’t for sale."
The collector continues, "Please, I need a hungry cat around the house to catch mice. I’ll pay you 20 dollars for that cat!" So the owner says, "Sold", and the money was exchanged for the cat.
The collector continued, "Hey, for the twenty bucks I wonder if you could throw in that old saucer. The cat’s used to it and it’ll save me from having to get a dish." The store owner replied, "Sorry buddy, but that my lucky saucer. So far this week I’ve sold sixty-eight cats!"
Make good use of the resources God has given you.
2. BE THANKFUL. This is the second means to live by when your resources are running low.
When Jesus procured the boy’s picnic provisions He instructed his disciples, "tell everyone to sit down." (Verse 10) Jesus was in effect saying, "Come to the table, you’re about to be served something to eat."
Verse 11 - Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God...
Jesus was doing what he always did and we should always do it too - give thanks to God!
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT) No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Thankfulness can be as simple as a matter of perspective. Don’t focus so much on what you don’t have that you fail to thank God for what you do have!
Take this letter home from a college girl:
"Dear mom: Sorry I haven’t written sooner. My arm really has been broken. I broke it, and my left leg, when I jumped from the second story of my dormitory...when we had the fire. We were lucky though. A young service station attendant saw the blaze and called the Fire Department. They were there in minutes. I was in the hospital for a few days. And because it was taking so long to get our dormitory livable again, I moved in with that service station attendant. He has been so nice. Don’t worry; we plan to get married just as soon as his divorce is final. I hope things are fine at home. I’m doing fine, and will write more when I get a chance. Love, your daughter, Susie.
"P.S. None of the above is true. But I did get a "C" in Sociology and flunked Chemistry. I just wanted you to receive this news in its proper perspective!"
The disciples were so focused on what they didn’t have that they failed to appreciate what God had provided. Don’t make that mistake!
When we took our family vacation last month we played Monopoly for the first time in years. It felt strange remembering how anxious you get going around the board, hoping you’ll be the one to buy and place hotels on Boardwalk, the most expensive property, and worrying instead that you’ll have to settle for the game’s cheapest piece of property, Baltic. It’s funny how you get so worked up about it when we all know that it really doesn’t matter because when the game’s over it all goes back in the box.
In real life it doesn’t matter if you live on Boardwalk or Baltic - when life’s over it’s all going back in the box! Don’t waste your life worrying about stuff. Christ followers are "eternity" people. We live for things that will matter for eternity - faith, family, and friends. If you have those - be thankful - even if you don’t have a surplus of the other stuff.
Give thanks every day - make it a habit. Like the Scripture we read a few minutes ago says, "No matter what happens, be thankful!" If the car breaks down, be thankful you have a car. If the utility bill is higher than usual, be thankful that you have a place to stay out of the elements.
3. SERVE OTHERS. This is the third means to live by when your resources are running low.
The Bible says that after he gave thanks for the loaves, "He passed them out to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate until they were full." (Verse 11)
Jesus did not think of his own needs in this time of want. And why was that?
John 10:11-12a (Msg) "I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd puts the sheep before himself, sacrifices himself if necessary. A hired man is not a real shepherd. The sheep mean nothing to him."
If Jesus had been a man hired to watch the sheep he might have decided the best way out of this predicament would have been to gather his disciples and vacate the premises. But he wasn’t a man hired to tend the sheep - he was the Good Shepherd!
And he did sacrifice himself for us - because it was necessary. We’re all sinners and he was the sinless sacrifice.
One of the most Christlike qualities you can possess is to be a servant - to put your life and your resources on the line for others. The problem is, this is especially difficult when your resources are running low. This is where you’ll be tested. You’ll begin to think to yourself, "Right now, I’d better be looking out for my own needs. I know there are others in need but I’m running short so I’ll have to pass on meeting their needs."
Thank God this was not the mindset of Christ! He didn’t confiscate the little boy’s lunch and say, "Well, I’m the bigshot here. If anyone should eat, I should." Instead, he distributed the food to the people.
The Synoptics record that Jesus broke the bread and gave it to each of his disciples to give to the people. Jesus performed the miracle and the disciples distributed it. (Mt. 14:19; Mk. 6:41; Lk. 9:16)
So the exciting insight is not just that the food multiplied - and it most certainly did! All four of the Good News accounts include this miracle - in fact, it is the only miracle of Jesus, other than his resurrection, that all four include! The miracle is unchallengeable and unbeatable! But don’t get so blown away by the miracle that you miss seeing the hands of Christ in service to the needs of man!
What are you supposed to do when your resources are running low? Are you supposed to close the door to your service and giving to others? That would be the natural and logical human response. But Jesus showed us by his example that you are to do the opposite. Serve and give your way out of a depleted situation!
This is where the miracle working power of God will be activated in your life! Don’t do what comes natural - do what comes Supernatural! Instead of just looking out for your self - look for someone to serve - look for someone to share the blessings God has given you - even if your resources seem to be small at the time.
Jesus was impressed with people who gave when their resources were limited.
Mark 12:41-44 (NLT) Jesus went over to the collection box in the Temple and sat and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. 42 Then a poor widow came and dropped in two pennies. 43 He called his disciples to him and said, "I assure you, this poor widow has given more than all the others have given. 44 For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has."
Jesus is watching your giving.
He sees if you’re just giving when its convenient, versus giving out of your depleted resources. And he honors consistent giving.
4. REALIZE THAT GOD ALWAYS HAS PLENTY LEFTOVER FOR YOU. This is the fourth means to live by when your resources are running low.
The natural human inclination when giving and serving others from your depleted resources is, "But who’s going to make sure that I have all I need?"
God is!
Verse 12 - "Now gather the leftovers," Jesus told his disciples, "so that nothing is wasted." 13 There were only five barley loaves to start with, but twelve baskets were filled with the pieces of bread the people did not eat!
Who were the twelve baskets full of leftovers for?
According to custom in Christ’s day, the residue of the meal was the property of the server. Just like our custom today is to tip waiters and waitresses for serving us.
You don’t have to use up very much mathematical ability to figure out what’s going on: 12 baskets of leftovers; 12 apostles...Jesus was serving the servers!
Whatever you give to God, he will not only multiply it to benefit others, but he will also give back to you in abundance! He’ll bless it, multiply it, distribute it, and then give more back to you than you gave in the first place.
Luke 6:38 (NLT) If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving - large or small - it will be used to measure what is given back to you.
Don’t cut corners when it comes to giving and serving. Your giving and serving will reap big dividends in the future.
During the first thirty years of missionary efforts in Kenya, more missionaries died than the number of converts who were won. In the remote inland regions of the country, missionaries sometimes arrived with their belongings stored in coffins. They were resigned to the fact that they would never make it back to the coast.
In spite of their difficulties and slowness of progress...today 85% of Kenya is at least nominally Christian. Evangelicals alone number approximately ten million!
Matthew 6:20-21 (NLT) Store your treasures in heaven, (Which is what those early missionaries to Kenya were doing) where they will never become moth-eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be.
What do you need to do with the Word today?
1. Change the way you manage your resources - utilizing even the smallest items God has given you?
2. Do you need to be more thankful for what you do have instead of majoring on what you don’t have?
3. Do you need to learn to serve others like Jesus did, even when your own resources are running low?
4. Are you looking to the future rewards of service and giving to God, or are you living only for here and now?
Let’s pray together.
If God’s Word has spoken to you about making some changes why not pray from this prayer from your heart as I pray out loud.
"Father, thank you for the example Jesus set for me in performing this great miracle! Help me to remember this miracle and the conversation Jesus had with his disciples when my resources are running low. Help me to be a better manager of even the little things you have given me.
"Thank you for all you have given me and forgive me for the times I’ve overlooked your blessings. I want to serve others even when my resources are low Jesus, just like you did, and I know I’ll be tempted to think only of myself - but help me not to.
"Thank you that you will reward me for following your example of giving and serving - both in this life and in the eternal life you have for me in heaven."
If you’re not a believer in Christ and you want to start following him today, why don’t you pray something like this from your heart: "Dear God, I realize Jesus gave Himself for me. Forgive all my sins. I am now deciding that I will follow Christ. Help me as I learn more about Him. In Jesus’ name. Amen."
