Sometimes we face situations where more mouths to feed show up than we expected. When that happens, we simply slice thinner pieces of pie, and everyone gets a taste of dessert, or a gracious host goes without in deference to the guests.

But when hanging around with Jesus, the disciples learned of new possibilities. Asked to feed a great crowd of people, the disciples brought over a boy carrying five small loafs and two small fish, and asked an obvious question—how far will they go among so many?

As the crowd settled in, Jesus gave thanks and began distributing the loafs and fish. How far did they go? To five thousand hungry mouths, with a dozen baskets of left-overs. I wonder if that little boy ever ate a loaf of bread again without thinking of Jesus?

I often look at my resources with a scarcity mindset, feeling the need to preserve, carefully steward, and watch over my time and money and stuff. I’m afraid of running out, or spreading it all too thin. I shy from generosity.

In contrast, Jesus offers an abundance mindset. The Lord of the universe, who spoke the worlds into being, who fed thousands from a boy’s lunch pail, might just be able to meet my needs.

If there’s not enough Jesus just makes more.

Trusting the Lord in this way allows my generosity to expand, even when I’m not sure if I can afford to be generous. I can look to an abundant God to add loaves and fishes and whatever I need to the challenging places in my life.

John 6 in week forty-four of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Rob Curran