a little boy's lunch

Scripture text:
John 6:1-14
1After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.

4 Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. 5 Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” 6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.

7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.”

8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?”

10 Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples[a] to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” 13 Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

This is a wonderful miracle performed by Jesus.  I want to point out something in the first verse. There was big crowd following because Jesus had been healing all that were diseased. He had been performing many miracles already. They disciples had seen these miracles. Yet, when it came time to feed the multitude, they immediately looked at the physical circumstances. When Jesus asked Philip about buying bread, Philip responded that there was not enough money.  He knew they did not have enough.  He also knew the markets were far away.  Peter reported that only food around was a little boy's lunch of five barley loaves and two small fish, but was basically nothing with so many people.

They had a very human response to a very big situation.  How could they possibly provide for so great a need?  They forgot who they knew.  They forgot they were with Jesus. They did not associate the mighty healing power he had just demonstrated with meeting a basic need. They did not think to call on Jesus and say, "can you do something about this overwhelming need?"

Jesus already knew what they were going to say. He was well aware of the human response they would have.  But the part that amazes me is the little lad was willing to hand over his lunch to Jesus.  He didn't argue or try to keep it for himself.  He willingly gave Jesus all he had. He was hungry too, but all he knew is Jesus needed what he had. Jesus wanted all and he gave it.

Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

So when we give to God, give ourselves and all we have and are, He will bless us boutifully. Not only did the little boy get to eat a fulfilling lunch, the entire multitude ate. There were even leftovers!
If we give little, we get little in return.  It may not always come back to us they way we expect, but God meets our needs, pours bountiful blessings on us and our families and into our lives.
We need to recognize that God does not ask us to give without the promise of His abundance.

He loves a cheerful giver. A giver, not just of material things, but of kindness, love, time, energy, etc.

1. Have I been a cheerful giver?

2. Have I understood that giving brings blessing?

3. Have I resisted giving due to my own fear, greed, insecurity?

Lord, help me be a cheerful and willing giver. Help me, Lord, to our into others just as you would. Help me be Your hands and feet. Make my heart the heart of a giver.