When “not enough” is enough!

Reflection

Prior to joining Wisdom In A Whisper Ministries, I spent two decades in sales.  I’ve been fortunate to work for some of the largest tech and pharmaceutical companies.  I have also worked for some very small “startup” companies.  Regardless of the size of the companies I worked for or the revenue they generated, there was one resource that neither of them could ever provide more of – time.  Anyone who has spent time in the working world or who is a parent has undoubtedly felt and even cried aloud how “there just isn’t enough time in the day to do it all!”  Can I get an Amen?!  

So here is a question: when is not enough, enough?

Reflection

To answer this question, I want to look at a story from the ministry of Jesus that we are all probably familiar with.  The account of Jesus feeding the crowd of five thousand with a meager five loaves of bread and two fish.  Interestingly, this is the only miracle of Jesus that all the Four Synoptic Gospels record, which is significant (Matthew 14, Mark 6, Luke 9, and John 6).  In each of these Gospel accounts, huge crowds of people followed Jesus and his disciples, and “He welcomed them and taught them about the Kingdom of God (Luke 9:11).”  By the time Jesus had finished, it was clear that preaching to such a large crowd in such a remote area would cause one specific logistical challenge for both the disciples and the crowd: food.  In John 6:4, it is mentioned that it was nearly time for the Passover celebration, so it’s very likely that many in this crowd were far from their homes.  It’s also likely that there were inadequate sources of food for a crowd of this size in nearby villages and towns.  

So, how did the disciples react? 

Well, like many of us would in their situation, they panicked!  Initially, they wanted to send the people away and let someone else figure out how to feed them.  And Jesus’ response to them?  He said to his disciples, “You give them something to eat.” (Matt 14:16 NIV) I can only imagine the looks on their faces and then the string of, “But…but…but…but’s,” they rattled off in response.  When sending the people away wouldn’t work, the disciples started to go to their book of excuses.  Matthew 14:17 states, “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!”  

John’s account offers another excuse.  Here, we read how Jesus tested Philip by asking him, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” (John 6:5)  Philip, being a math whiz, quickly crunched some numbers and replied that even if they worked for months, they couldn’t feed this many people.  In fact, the NKJV translation (as do others) of John 6:7 states that even two hundred denarii (the equivalent of two hundred days’ wages) worth of bread would be insufficient.  Then, in verses 8-9, Andrew speaks up in total doubt and disbelief as to how such a small resource of food could feed so many.

So, what can we learn from this miracle?  

Jesus never promised his disciples a carefree, comfortable, and easy life.  As disciples of Jesus, we are to take up our cross daily (Luke 9:23).  In John 16, Jesus foretold of a time when the disciples would be scattered, and in this world, they would have trouble (v32-33).  As Christians, we strive to live to the mission and purpose of taking up our cross, but we often face struggles and roadblocks.  When our circumstances become overwhelming and difficult, it can be tempting to give up, or as the disciples did, try just to ignore the problem or “excuse it away.”  But that would be and is the wrong choice!  

As we saw with Jesus in this account, the Lord was undeterred.  He wasn’t going to take “No” for an answer from the disciples, nor will he take that response from us.  Why?  Because as disciples of Jesus, we must believe and understand that he has authority over all things, and that by his all-sufficient grace, there is always going to be enough.  When the disciples were faced with feeding the five thousand, they didn’t understand their full resources, or shall I say, their True Resource.  When we fully surrender to Jesus and allow him to have dominion over our lives, then little becomes much.  He is all we need.  His grace is sufficient for us. 

Friends, we serve a loving, devoted Father who is in the business of taking something that appears hopeless, insufficient, or broken and makes all things new.  We serve a God who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is within us (Eph 3:20).  Jesus never promises an easy life, but he will give us a full life, but only if we give him everything we have.  Let’s all strive to be like the little boy who gave Jesus everything from his lunchbox.  Just as Jesus took all the boy had, so it is with us.  Jesus will give us an abundance of life, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

So, are you ready?  Will you place every meager loaf into the hands of Jesus, down to the last crumb?  Will you give him each fish, no matter how small they might be?

Today marks one week since Good Friday.  It was on that day that Jesus was nailed to that Roman cross for you and for me.  He gave his life, so that we can have eternal life.  

So today, I ask you this:  What can you give to Jesus today?  What are the loaves and fishes you can willingly give to Jesus today?  What in your life do you believe is too meager or paltry for Jesus to use?  What problem have you just ignored hoping it will go away, or perhaps one that you have made every excuse for why you can’t fix it?  What need do you have that Jesus can meet?  Where in your life is the Holy Spirit pushing you to go?  

Maybe it’s a relationship that needs to be repaired.  Perhaps it’s that career change you’ve always been too afraid to make.  Maybe it’s taking a more active role in your church, with a ministry, or with an organization that helps people in your community.

Give your loaves and fish today.  There, we will find Jesus, who feeds us to our fullest.

Amen. 

Doug