“Give them some food yourselves.”
That’s what Jesus says to the disciples. Yes, it would be easier to send the people away so they can fend for themselves. But that’s not how God wants to feed them, and Jesus won’t hear of it. “Give them some food yourselves.” That had to be more than a little bewildering for them, because all they have are five loaves and couple of fish, hardly enough for the incredible crowd. Hardly enough for their own group, to be honest.
But what they don’t know is that that little sacrifice in the hands of Jesus is enough to feed all of them and then some. How amazed they must have been as the meal is passes around and one by one, every man, woman and child is able to eat. And it’s not like they just get a little nibble: they all eat and are satisfied!
Think about it. We are often asked to address an issue we feel unequipped to handle. We may feel we don’t have the resources, or the experience, or the energy to to even make a dent in the issue. But we have to remember the loaves and the fishes. Giving what we have to our Lord, we can then trust in him to make up our lack.
What meager offering will you be called upon to sacrifice today so that others can be fed? Our little service might not seem like much, but in Jesus’ hands it is more than enough.
“Give them some food yourselves.”