There they were. All five thousand of them who had come to hear the man named Jesus teach. What they didn’t know was that he was trying to find some alone time, but the people kept searching him out. And he didn’t disappoint. He didn’t tell them to wait until he had replenished his need for solitude. He didn’t tell them to go home and come back tomorrow. No. He sat down and taught them the words of his Father.
The meeting was likely impromptu. It wasn’t a planned event. The people would seek him out in droves, especially after he began performing miracles. Aside from wanting to see a miracle firsthand, these people were eager to know what it was about him that was so different. They had never heard anyone speak as he did. They dropped everything to sit and listen to him speak for hours on end. They would swarm him and hope to hear his latest teachings. Oh. They would come unprepared, bringing nothing to eat or drink. They thirsted for truth, not physical comfort.
But then. They had been sitting there for hours. Listening to this man who called himself the Son of God. And they began to get hungry. Stomachs growled. Children grew restless. Adults became weak. But it wasn’t a planned event, so there were no buffet lines or snack machines. There was no bottled water or fast food. And there was no budget to feed such a large crowd. There was no plan. At all. But Jesus knew the people needed to be fed. So he mentioned the need to Philip, because he wanted to test this disciple.
There was one young boy in the crowd who must have come alone. No word is written about his parents. But someone, perhaps his mother, thought to pack him a small lunch. Someone knew he would become hungry and need to be fed. So he carried his lunch with him. Not thinking of feeding anyone but himself, he may have sat alone listening to the Great Teacher.
The young boy was most likely very poor. It was obvious because his lunch consisted of barley bread and fish. It was the barley bread that gave it away. Only poor people used cheap barley instead of wheat to make their bread. But if five thousand people are hungry, will they mind eating cheap bread?
Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin. Zechariah 4:10
What that child didn’t know when he left home that day was what a stir his cheap lunch would cause. He didn’t know that the story of his lunch would be told until kingdom come. Oh. It wasn’t as if he planned it. But his lunch made history. A miracle was performed through his small offering. He gave what he had, and everyone ate until they were filled. There were twelve baskets of food left over. The story of his small offering is a clear example of how God works in mysterious ways to care for his people.
Oh. If only we would be willing to offer up what little we have. We don’t have to offer the most expensive items or designer name brands. We offer what we have, even if it is a sacrifice. Even if our offering is from the dollar store, God can use a gift given from a willing heart. If we serve hot dogs and chips to guests, God will be in the room with us if we’re serving others in his name. We don’t have to serve steak and lobster in order to please God. It isn’t the offering we give, but it’s the attitude of giving that God sees.
I think of the young widow who dropped two small coins in the offering. While the wealthy made a big show of placing their large offerings in the basket, she quietly gave all she had with the hope that no one saw her small gift. It might have been a sorry gift to some, but it was all she had to offer. And she didn’t hesitate. I would love to know how her faithfulness was rewarded. Not that we should expect a tangible reward for our faithfulness, but Jesus was standing there watching the crowd and he saw her gift. He explained to his disciples that while the wealthy gave a tiny share of their surplus, she gave all she had.
While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins. “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.” Luke 21:1-4
When a college graduate begins their career, they shouldn’t expect to start out as CEO. They start at the bottom and work their way up the ladder, if they have the right opportunities and skills. When a pastor plants a new church, he doesn’t start with a large congregation. He may start with only a handful of people and a low budget. Then he will see growth from his sacrifice, faithfulness and prayers. A new business starts small, because no business is ever planted as a Fortune 500 company. It takes years of effort and hard work to reach the pinnacle of what some call success.
I read recently of an older woman who went out in public in her best clothes. Others laughed at her, because of her cheap, worn outfit. Hearing their laughter, she bent with shame at their words. Her best was a laughable offense in their eyes, but it was all she had. At times, others may smirk at our small offering, as if it’s worthless. Other times, we may be the one who laughs behind the back of another at their small beginning. Shame on us.
We may think we have nothing to offer. Our talents seem unidentifiable. Our gifts seem indistinguishable. Our stewardship seems insignificant. But if we give of our best, God knows. We may only be able to give small gifts, but when we give them cheerfully and willfully, it’s the attitude that matters.
Don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully. 2 Corinthians 9:7
Mercy for the Day 