little & much

Matthew 14

13 As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone.

(dan note: Jesus had just learned of the death of His cousin, John the Baptist.)

But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns.

14 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat,

and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.  

15 That evening the disciples came to him and said,

"This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves."

  16 But Jesus said, "That isn't necessary—you feed them."

  17 "But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!" they answered.

  18 "Bring them here," he said.

19 Then he told the people to sit down on the grass.

Jesus took the five loaves and two fish,

looked up toward heaven,

and blessed them.

Then, breaking the loaves into pieces,

he gave the bread to the disciples,

who distributed it to the people.

20 They all ate as much as they wanted,

and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers.

21 About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children!

I've written a talk about this passage, but let me point out 1 thing from it...

When Jesus told the disciples to feed the people, they told Him they “have only...” a ridiculously small amount of something.

iow, they didn't think they had much of anything, something of little or no value, in view of the situation.

And yet, look at what Jesus did with what little they had!

(I think I heard this thought expressed by Steven Furtick, pastor at Elevation Church in Charlotte.)

Most of us probably think that who we are & what we have to offer is of little or no value in God, in view of the enormity of life's situations.

But He doesn't see it that way.