Do you ever feel like you’ve been asked to do the impossible? There are times I look at my schedule and feel like I’ve been asked to do the impossible. There just don’t seem to be enough hours in a day to get done all I need to get done some weeks.
The disciples were familiar with being asked to do the impossible when there just didn’t seem to be enough to work with. The story of Jesus feeding the crowd of five thousand (when only men were counted) is found in Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17 and John 6:1-15. In this story, the disciples go to Jesus asking Him to send the people away so they will be able to go and get something to eat. In three of the Gospels, He is recorded as saying “You give them something to eat.” [Matthew 14:16, Mark 6:37, and Luke 9:13] and in John He asks them “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?”
The Lord is all knowing. He knew the circumstances they were in and He knew the disciples didn’t have food stored away somewhere to feed themselves let alone a crowd this size. He also knew the disciples didn’t have the financial resources to purchase bread for the crowd that had gathers. What were they to do? To quote my grandmother, “It’s a curiosity.”
I believe the Lord was looking to see if they would surrender whatever they had to share with others, knowing it was insufficient, and believe in Him to do the rest. Once they surrendered the five loaves and two fish, the Lord took it and blessed it and it was more than enough.
This story is familiar to most believers, but how does it apply to us today? Some people feel like they don’t have enough to take care of the need before them so they say “Why bother” and don’t give anything. Others recognize they have enough to take care of themselves and if they give it they might not be able to so; therefore, they refuse to give.
Whether it is time, money or food, if we will give what we have to the Lord and trust it to Him, He will bless it and multiply it to the point of abundance. All four Gospels speak to the abundance of bread and fish left over after everyone had their fill- not just a taste [Matthew 14:20, Mark 6:43, Luke 9:17, and John 6:13]. Malachi 3:10 says “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”
Is there something you are holding back from the Lord? It does not matter if it is money, time, food or any other resource you have, the Lord wants to know if you will partner with Him in meeting the needs of others. He could meet all the needs out there without our help; however, He chooses to work through us. What are you willing to bring to Him for Him to bless, split up and take care of the Body of Christ with today? Don’t hold back. You’ve already seen evidence in the Word there will be an abundance left over. What are you waiting for?