Matthew 15:32-33, “Now Jesus called his disciples to himself and said, “ I have compassion on the multitude because they have now continued with me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.”
Then his disciples said to him, ”Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?”
Jesus said to them, ”How many loaves do you have?”
And they said,”Seven, and a few little fish.”
A large crowd of people ( four thousand men, besides the women and children) had come to Jesus bringing people who needed physical healing. They had been with Jesus for three days and they had nothing more to eat. They were out in the wilderness and Jesus didn’t want to send them to walk home hungry. He had compassion on them. He clearly knew that he could miraculously supply the food, but he invited the disciples to be a part of this. So he asked them what they had with them to eat. If you remember, they had already seen Jesus feed another crowd of five thousand men plus women and children! They should have known he could handle this as well! But still they just, undoubtedly, stood there looking at the meager amount of food they had, trying to figure out what to do. Even though they had witnessed Jesus do the impossible before, they stood perplexed. They had a small amount... clearly not enough. Just a small lunch. Jesus told them to give what they had to him. When they gave that small lunch basket with a few loaves and fish to Jesus, huge things happened with it! Jesus wasn’t panicked or worried. He simply asked them to give him what they had. If you read on in this story, Jesus thanked God for it, he broke it, and gave it back to the disciples to give to the people. They kept passing out loaves and fish, and it didnt run out until they were all full! There was seven large baskets of leftovers! They ended up having more than they needed! Abundantly more than they would’ve ever even imagined! The really cool thing is that Jesus let them be a part of that awesome and amazing miracle!
Like the disciples, we know that nothing is impossible with Jesus, but yet, like them, we throw up our hands in despair when we are faced with difficult situations! They should have known he could take care of this. What was Jesus, so patiently, once again, teaching the disciples? He was teaching them to trust Him in seemingly impossible situations. He was showing them that in ministry, or really in any circumstance, that their skills, talents, resources, etc. are not the focus. The focus is this.. when we give what we have to Him, he will multiply it into more than we can even ask or think!
Do we sometimes see what we have to offer as clearly not enough? Do we often crumble in despair or wring our hands in worry when we are faced with a monumental task, or when we face a situation that appears hopeless? Often times, we look at a difficult situation and conclude, we just can’t handle it. Maybe we feel lead to serve in some capacity, but we think we don’t have enough talent, resources, or time to really make a difference. Just like that multitude following Jesus; the broken, the hurting and sick, this world is in need of a Savior! They need Jesus! But we say, what can one person do to make any difference? We think we don’t have enough to offer. The focus can’t be on that. The focus has to be on Jesus and what He can do with our “not enough”. In his hands, our “not enough” becomes more than you can even imagine!
Maybe you are facing something in your life where you feel totally inadequate and ill-equipped to handle it. That’s exactly the moment Jesus asks you what you do have. He says to give it to him. He blesses it and multiplies in ways unimaginable! If you need patience, strength, energy, time, compassion... whatever, lay what you have at his feet. Ask him to take it and multiply it. Jesus says to “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” We worry and work ourselves to death trying to do things on our own, when we’ve seen Jesus care for us and work in us and through us, time and time before. Take your tired, burdened “ not enough” to him, and he will gently and lovingly supply you with exactly what you need, and more!
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