But We Have Only Five Loaves Of Bread And Two Fish!

 Click Here for Daily Bible Reading!

But

We Have Only

Five Loaves Of Bread And Two Fish!

Scripture

Matthew 14

16 But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.”

17 “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they answered.

18 “Bring them here,” he said. 

19 Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. 

20 They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. 

21 About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children!

Matthew 15

32 Then Jesus called his disciples and told them, “I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat. I don’t want to send them away hungry, or they will faint along the way.”

33 The disciples replied, “Where would we get enough food here in the wilderness for such a huge crowd?”

34 Jesus asked, “How much bread do you have?”

They replied, “Seven loaves, and a few small fish.”

35 So Jesus told all the people to sit down on the ground. 36 Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, thanked God for them, and broke them into pieces. He gave them to the disciples, who distributed the food to the crowd.

37 They all ate as much as they wanted. Afterward, the disciples picked up seven large baskets of leftover food. 

38 There were 4,000 men who were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children. 

Matthew 16

7 At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn’t brought any bread. 

8 Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, “You have so little faith! Why are you arguing with each other about having no bread? 

9 Don’t you understand even yet? Don’t you remember the 5,000 I fed with five loaves, and the baskets of leftovers you picked up?

 10 Or the 4,000 I fed with seven loaves, and the large baskets of leftovers you picked up? 

11 Why can’t you understand that I’m not talking about bread?

Observation

Our pastors are preaching a series of messages on the topic of giving. And as always is the case I hear about people who are complaining because they don't like to hear messages about giving or about stewardship!

Jesus patiently taught his disciples about giving and about trusting, in fact, hopefully you can see that in Matthew 14, 15, 16, Jesus drove home the point with the feeding of the 5,000 and the feeding of the 4,000 that Jesus can multiply and bless whatever we put in His Hands.

Every time we increase our giving Jesus promises to multiply and bless what we have given!

When Kathy and I were preparing to get married back in the fall of 1969, Dr. Waylon B. Moore was our pastor and we met with him for counseling. Very wisely he suggested to us that we start giving on a regular basis an offering to the church.

He explained to us what a tithe was and he must have realized, probably by the expression on my face, that I was not spiritually at a point to give a 10^th of my pay check to the church. So he wisely suggested that we start at 3% or 4 % and just keep increasing our giving as we watched how God blessed and took care of us.

And he said this, “Don't stop giving when you reach 10 %, but keep increasing your giving!”

Some would like to argue that giving a tithe to the church is something from the Old Testament and that now we are no longer under the law, but that we are now under grace. If you happen to be one of those that wants to argue that our giving should now be less because we are under grace then sadly you have not yet learned the principle of the “Law Of The Harvest”!

Here are just a few verses from the New Testament that should encourage our generosity:

2 Corinthians 9

6 Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 

7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”

8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.

11 Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.

Luke 6:38

38 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back

Application

It is a real challenge to try to out give God! It can't be done! But I will look for ways to be generous with what God has allowed Kathy and I to have.

How about you? Do you understand and do you put into practice “The Law Of The Harvest”?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I know that just as You tested and trained the first disciples that walked with Jesus, I know that you are testing and training me. I am Your disciple. I am learning. Help me to be teachable. Don't let me be hard-headed. Help me to be generous. I know that I can never out give You. You are constantly blessing us. Thank You for Your faithfulness. Give me Your heart for the people around me.

I pray for any person that may read this blog today who is struggling in the area of giving, Lord. Set them free. Show them that the more generous that they are in every area of his or her life then the more You will bless them. Show them that they cannot out give You!

Daily Bible Reading: Matthew 14,15,16

Click Here for Daily Bible Reading!