Matthew 14:17-21 (NKJV) Feeding the Five Thousand
17 And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”
18 He said, “Bring them here to Me.” 19 Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. 20 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. 21 Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Many are afraid there won’t be enough to go around. The disciples were astounded that Jesus told them “you give them something to eat.” Where would they be able to find enough food let alone pay for it? They were in the countryside with no stores around.
Jealousy comes from a feeling of lack. When a new child comes into a family, the existing siblings may feel they now have to share a smaller piece of the love pie. There might not be as much as there was or even enough for their needs. But love has a funny way of growing to be more than enough. Just like five loaves and two fish fed more than five thousand people with twelve baskets left over, a parent’s love can do the same thing. That love is based on God’s love which is infinite. We love because God first loved us. He taught us everything we need to know by giving Himself to and for us.
“Give Love Away” is the tag line at our Church. We are a church with many different missions and a lot of outreach. Our Pastor charges us to take God’s love out into the world. But if we give it away, will we have enough for ourselves? Just like the feeding of the five thousand, not only will everyone be loved, there will be twelve baskets of left-overs. Come and get yours! We’re open on Sundays.
Lord, just as You gave thanks to the Father in advance for what He would do in feeding the people, we thank You in advance that you will feed us with more than food. Thank You that You give us the food of Your love and the water of Your life. Just as You gave the food to the disciples so they could give it to the people, entrust us with Your Word that we can take it out to the world. In Your name we pray. Amen!