Give to God - God will do the impossible !
Matthew 14: 13-21
Picture this scene... There are a great many people; it is late;
and they are hungry. It is likely that the vast majority of that crowd
set out for the lake without any food at all. Did they not take
anything with them, no matter how little? Anyhow, now it is evening
and they are hungry. But they are also selfish. And no
one produced what he had, for he would have to share it and not leave enough
for himself.
The disciples find one boy who packed some fish and bread. Then
Jesus takes the food from the young child. Jesus begins to share with a
blessing and an invitation and a smile. And thereupon all begin to
share, and before they know what is happening, there is enough and more
than enough for all.
When Jesus asks the disciples to provide food for over 5,000 people, they
respond in astonishment, "should we go and spend eight month's wages on
bread?" When the disciples express their concern about where the
crowd of thousands will eat, Jesus offers a surprising solution- "You
give them something to eat." The disciples protest, they
focus their attention on what they don't have --(food and money).
Jesus wants to teach the disciples that financial resources are not the
most important ones. We limit what God does in us by assuming what
is and is not possible. Do you think God would ask you to do
something that you and He together couldn't handle?
How do you react when you are given an impossible task?
I still remember a banner made by kids who participated in Vacation Bible
School in a Korean church. It said, "God is greater than any
other problem in the world." Yes, it is true.
We know well that God created this world, he can make anything new if He
wants and He can add up anything if He needs. We don't have to focus
on how many resources or how much money we have, but to remember who is
behind us, who is our God and how strong and rich He is.
A situation that may seem impossible with human resources is simply an
opportunity for God. We all believe our Almighty God can perform
miracles. Even though our resources are small and limited, it doesn't
matter to Him, because He can do the incredible, unpredictable, and
impossible with them. The disciples did everything they could by
gathering the available food and organizing the people into groups. Then,
in answer to prayer, God did the impossible.
Let me say again. God can do the impossible. God will do
the impossible. When facing a seemingly impossible task, do what
you can and ask God to do the rest. He may see fit to make the
impossible happen.
God is bigger than us. God's ability is greater than ours.
God can make the impossible happen! Don't let your lack of
resources blind you from seeing God's power.
I heard that Moore's Chapel has a special plan for a new building.
I don't know your budget for this project, how you will accomplish the
fundraising campaign, where this process is now, or how much money you still
need for this project (I will learn later). However, one thing is
clear. This new building project is not supposed to be at our hand
but His. With our calculation, there are so many reasons not to
build the building and to finish this project. At Jesus' hand, we will
see a miraculous thing happen like the little boy in today's Scripture.
When some bread and fish were in the hands of the little boy, that was
nothing. However, in hands of Jesus Christ, it was more than we
could ever imagine. So now, in His hands, it will be more than we
can calculate, and it will be a sign that we can do anything.
Let us contrast the disciples with the youngster who brought what he
had. The disciples certainly had more resources than the boy, but they
knew they didn't have enough, so they didn't give anything at all. The
boy gave what little he had, and it made all the difference. If we
offer nothing to God, he will have nothing to use. But he can take
what little we have and turn it into something great.
Let me tell you a story. In the middle of the arid Amalgosa desert,
there stood a pump. A can was hung at the handle of pump. In the can
was a letter for any stranger who may wander in the arid desert to find
water. "This pump was installed in June 1932. There is
plenty of underground water. I fixed this up so that anybody can use
it for the next 5 years.
But whoever wants to use it must first wet the seal within the pump in
order to pump up water because the seal is too dry to create suction.
So I left some water here that you can use to prime the pump. You will also
find a water bottle under the white rock beside the pump. I corked the
bottle so tightly that the water cannot evaporate. There is enough
water only for priming the pump.
Therefore, first, you should use one fourth to drench the leather
inside. And then, pump the handle. If you do as I instruct,
you can get as much water as you want. Lastly, please fill the can
and bottle just as I did. P.S. if you drink the water bottle, you will
never be able to use the pump."
If we give a little bit to God, in faith, then it is like priming a
spiritual pump, and God will respond with streams of blessings.
There is the same lesson in the leftover food. God gives in
abundance. He takes whatever we can offer him in time, ability, or
resources and multiplies its effectiveness beyond our wildest expectations.
If you take the first step in making yourself available to God, he will show
you how greatly you can be used to advance the work of his kingdom.
This account of the feeding of the 5,000 is not the miracle of the
multiplication of some bread and fish; it is the miracle of the
changing of selfish people into generous people at the touch of Christ.
It is the miracle of men and women, who at the touch of Christ, something
changed within them to banish their selfishness. If that be so, then
in the realist sense Christ fed them with himself and sent his Spirit to
dwell within their hearts.
Once when I was leading a youth bible study, I passed around a loaf of
un-sliced bread and asked each person to react to it. One squeezed it
and said, "It's fresh." Another commented, "It smells
delicious." Still another noted, "It looks
nourishing." Finally someone said, "That's true, but I am
hungry." With that, he broke off a piece and ate it. His
response said it all: Unbroken bread is useless.
Jesus faced 5,000 hungry people. Only by breaking the five loaves
of bread and two fish into pieces could He miraculously feed the
multitude. Not only did this miracle foreshadow Christ's brokenness on
the cross--- a breaking that would make the Bread of Life available to
all--- but it also speaks to them of the brokenness that believers must
experience if they are to be used by God.
Jesus Christ needs disciples through whom he can work and through whom
his truth and his love can enter into the lives of others. He needs
people to whom he can give, in order that they may give to others.
Without such people he cannot get things done and it is our task to be such
a person for him.
Why did Jesus bother to feed these people? He could just as easily
have sent them on their way. But Jesus does not ignore needs.
He is concerned with every aspect of our lives---the physical as well as the
spiritual. As we work to bring wholeness to people's lives, we must
never ignore the fact that all of us have needs. And if we live in
the love of Christ, sometimes, we need to show that love, not only in words
but also in practical and tangible ways.
Have you ever heard of witnessing with a lamb chop? W.H.
Lax, a Methodist Minister in London for 38 years, did just that. An
old man was gravely ill, and Pastor Lax called on him. The man had no
time for ministers, and as soon as he saw Lax, he turned away and refused to
speak.
 Pastor Lax suspected that the man's food supply had run low. So
when he left the house, the minister stopped at a local butcher shop and had
two lamb chops sent over. He called again in a few days and the old
fellow was a bit friendlier. On his way home, Lax left another order
with the butcher. By his third visit there was a noticeable change.
The man was congenial and outgoing; he even allowed the minister to
witness to him. While Lax was away on a preaching mission, the old man
died. Apparently he had put his trust in Christ, for just before he
died he said, "Tell the minister that it's all right now. I am
going to God. But be sure to tell him it was not his talking that
changed me. It was those lamb chops!"
It doesn't matter whether it is lamb chops or meatballs or hot dogs or
oyster fritters. The important thing is what we give to others in
the name of Jesus Christ and how we share God's love with others.
Meeting someone's need provides a great opportunity to share the
Gospel. It melts the most hardened heart and opens doors that have
been locked for a lifetime. Do you know there are so many
"someones" who need your "lamb chop" today around you?
Let's go back to today's Scripture again. Jesus multiplied some
bread and fish to feed over 5,000 people. What he was originally
given seemed insufficient, but in his hands it became more than enough.
We often feel that our contribution to Jesus is not enough.
Sometimes, we feel that our age is too old or young, our possessions are
too small and our ability is limited, but he can use and multiply whatever
we give him, whether it is talent, time, or money. It is when we
give them to Jesus that our resources are multiplied.
It is easy to be frightened and discouraged by a task of such
magnitude. But there is another thing in this story that may lift up
our hearts. When Jesus told the disciples to feed the crowd, they told
him that all they had was some bread and fish; and yet with what they
brought to him, Jesus made his miracle.
Jesus gives every one of us the tremendous task of communicating himself
to men; but he does not demand from us brilliance and excellence that
we usually do not possess. He says to us, "Come to me as you are,
bring to me what you have, however little, and I will use it greatly in my
service." Little is always much in the hands of Christ.
In performing his miracles, Jesus usually preferred to work through
ordinary people. Here he took what a young child offered and used
it to accomplish one of the most spectacular miracles recorded in the
Gospels. Age is no barrier to Christ. No matter how much you
possess, it doesn't matter to Him. Never think you are too young or
too old to be of service to Him. Never think you have too little
for His plans.
Who do you think is the richest person in this world? You may
answer Bill Gates, Jack Welch, or Paris Hilton. However, God has a
different measure from our standard. I believe that a rich person
is not the one who has many resources or has tons of money or property, but
the one who can feed the hungry, give water to thirsty, and share these
resources with people in need, and the one that can willingly give to Jesus'
magic hand who can make the miracle. Although we hear powerful
messages of TV evangelists, and there are well organized mega churches, it
is ordinary people like the little boy in today's Scripture, like
you and me, who do God's extraordinary work.
As grandparents, we can pray faithfully for our grandchildren and talk to
each one about trusting Christ. As businessperson, we can witness to
everyone in our office. As Christians, we can take a meal to our
unbelieving neighbors when their baby is hospitalized and assure them of our
prayers.
When we ask, "Does God really want to use me?" the answer is
clear. God chooses " the weak things of the world to put to shame
the things which are mighty" (1 Cor. 1:27). God has been
using ordinary people like the little boy who had five loaves of bread and
two fish in today's Scripture, and you and me, for thousands of years.
Why would God stop now?
Do you believe that the Almighty God is your God? Do you believe
that He always works through your resources whether it is a small amount or
huge amount? Are you ready to give anything to God? Do
you have the willingness to give up your material and resources for what God
has planned for? What can you give for Him?
God still needs our resources and us, for His plan towards this
world. Amen.
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Link: What Can You Do For God ?