God Can Do Much With Little!

Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2and a great crowd of people followed Him because they saw the miraculous signs He had performed on the sick. 3Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with His disciples. 4The Jewish Passover Feast was near.

5When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6He asked this only to test him, for He already had in mind what He was going to do.

7Philip answered Him, “Eight months’ wages^a would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

8Another of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

10Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. 11Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

12When they had all had enough to eat, He said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.   John 6:1-13

When I was a little girl, this was my favorite Bible story!  I think I loved it because Jesus used a child and what little he had to offer to show a miracle of such  prodigious proportions!   All  the reasoning of his disciples could not produce an answer for so great a "problem" of what Jesus was about to take care of Himself.    Five thousand people had gathered to hear Jesus preach and teach and perform miracles on their behalf.  They were not leaving any time soon and dusk was falling!  Jesus was testing them to see what they would reply to His question.  It is so funny when God asks a question of us.  He knows the answer.  He isn't asking for His benefit, He is asking for ours!  It makes us think doesn't it?  Finally, Andrew tells Jesus of the little boy with "five barley loaves and two small fish; but what are they among so many people?"  Oh, that is a question that makes me want to shout and dance all over my house!!  Doesn't the devil love to make us feel that way sometimes?  What are we among so many people?  A lady came to our church years ago and gave her testimony.  I don't remember her name because it was over fifteen years ago, probably even longer than that, but her testimony resonates in my mind!   She did not receive Jesus until later in life.  What I mean by that is, she was over thirty.  Many of us were born again as children.  She had not had the teaching, Sunday school, revivals, and the ministry of a pastor like so many of us grew up under.  She began to think about this one day.  She was a housewife with small children at the time and she had never really excelled in anything in particular.  She said she walked to her living room window one day and looked out.  Her mind went to God and her precious Saviour.  She thought of the high price He had paid for her redemption and she was overcome with love for Jesus!  She said as she stood there and looked out she prayed a short prayer, but with great sincerety and fervency!  She told the Lord, "Lord, I don't have much to offer, but what I have it is yours to use at your will."  Doors of opportunity began to open for that dear lady.  She eventually became President of King's Way Seminary, a seminary that has schools internationally!  She was not only president, but taught many future ministers as well!  She didn't have much she thought, but when she gave all to Jesus, He multiplied what she was willing to give!  So many times we are looking for expertise, genius, incredible capabilities!  But, all the while God is looking for the "foolish things of this world to confound the wise"!  God is looking for willing hearts!   Watch God open doors for you, my dear reader, you never could have opened for yourself!  Watch God equip you to do things for which you thought you were the least qualified to do!  Watch God stretch your borders and enlarge the place of your tent!  Watch God take your simplicity and multiply it into His "genius"!  When we get to that place of knowing we have little to offer but if God can use it we are willing to give it, then and only then,  are we fit for use!  If we could do it, where would God's glory be in that?  Jesus multiplied the small amount of food to the point that, that which was left over filled twelve baskets!!  Why did He do that?  Because He is a "more than enough" God!  He is the God of mulitplicity and the God of reciprocity!  He multiplies what we give him, and gives it back to us in abundance, whether it be in talent, finances, ministry, or in what we may designate in just simple acts of kindness!  Get ready, a windfall is coming to you!  He also did it, so that no excuse could be made by anyone and credit given to fleshly men!  It had to be of great proportions so that it could only be called a literal miracle.  Believe me dear reader, anything that is worth anything at all is only of worth if God gets glory from it!!  Don't let the devil lie to you and tell you what you have is too insignificant for God to use!  God has destined you for mighty exploits for His glory!  Yield your whole heart, soul, and body to Him and watch where He takes you!  Remember, as you are being blessed to be a blessing, and a blessing you shall be!