Don't Waste It

I really love the story of the little boy with the loaves of bread and fish. 

A great crowd was present and hungry, and Jesus first asked one of his followers how they were going to find food for the people to eat.  The guy answered in terms of what he knew – it would take half a year’s wages to feed them all one bite.  Another guy answered Jesus, and handed the little boy’s food over but asked how in the world that could feed so many. 

One of the verses says Jesus asked the question to test his followers, and that Jesus already had in mind what he was going to do.  I suppose he wanted to see if these guys had been with Jesus enough to know that a big hungry crowd was no problem for Him.

We are presented with impossible circumstances in our life, often.  We can either look at our own resources; and realize they are not enough, or we can hand over what we do have and ask God to multiply them.  I think Jesus still asks us, “What are you going to do?”

But when He provides and our bellies are full, we need to be sure and gather the leftovers and “let nothing be wasted.” I’ve always loved how Jesus performed such a cool miracle, but never really looked at this instruction he gave afterwards.

When God gives us more than enough, especially when we doubt and He gives to us anyway, we must let nothing He gives us be wasted – but rather we must lavish it on others around us.

Great personal miracles are awesome. But a shared miracle is like fireworks in the sky.