Meager Surplus

Imagine what you could do if you knew nothing was impossible.

After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.” When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself. - John 6:1-15

We look at the feeding of the five thousand and we see something miraculous, something we could never do, but what if we are wrong?

What if Jesus wants to show us what is possible through faith?

Jesus starts out with an awareness of need.  The people are hungry and need to be fed.

Then he challenges his followers to think.  First they are focused on the obvious.  Where are they to buy enough food?

But then Andrew notices there is a boy with some food.  Hope.  They have something to start with and Jesus knows that is enough.  Hope springs forth action and faith carries them home.

So, how do we use this example in our lives?

Instead of seeing an obstacle as immovable or insurmountable, we need to find a glimmer of hope and act on it.

We have some food, so we can start feeding the people.

When we start, more food will come, and eventually we will have enough to be able to gather up the leftovers and feed more.

I have seen this approach work, every day.  We go out in faith and do what we can with what we have, and miraculously, more comes to fill the need.

If we did nothing, nothing would happen.  But by acting on faith, people see what we are trying to do and they come to help.

We can multiply the loaves by sharing them.  We can increase our supply by giving it away.

This is what Jesus taught us.  Give and you shall receive.

So, as we go out into the world today, we need to imagine the little we have as the abundance it could be, and watch as the Spirit of God transforms the meager into the surplus.

More to come...