Small Fish and Barley Loaves

Being poor isn't fun. I just thought I'd report that. I don't like wondering about our mortgage each month or our utility bill. In political language, we are "materially disadvantaged." Financially, we have never been worse off; praise God! We are rich in faith...

Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?

When we are weak, that gives God His chance to show up in a dramatic and physical way. It seems to be God's pattern. He loves to use those who are needful to bless them and others. He loves to take just a little bit and turn it into a fantastic blessing. We see it with the loaves and fishes. Phillip says to Jesus, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!" Yet Jesus distributes five barley loaves and two small fish, a young boy's lunch, and everyone had "as much as they wanted."

Something else sticks out in my mind on this. John recounts,

When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

Jesus used abundance from God, but did not allow the wasteful use of God's abundant blessing. Note also that there were 12 baskets, matching the number of disciples. Each disciple was blessed with his own abundant gift to bless himself and others later. All from a few loaves and small fish.

I trust Him to take care of my family, too.