If you only have five loaves and two fish, but you’ve got 5000 pairs of hungry eyeballs watching you distribute, conventional wisdom says … ration it. You really need to make it last. If everybody takes the smallest nibble, you might be lucky to stretch it past the first couple of rows of people. But Jesus doesn’t ration.
Jesus 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. John 6:11 NIV
He’s not talking about carb-loading. He’s about satisfying the deepest hunger of the human soul: our connection to our God, offered to everyone freely.
As human beings, we live in a constant mindset of scarcity. We can’t even wrap our mind around how God blesses. He gives unlimited access to grace, to forgiveness, to His very presence – available to everyone who arrives at the table. He feeds us abundantly, completely, and without reservation through Jesus Himself, the Bread of Life.
But then He does something very interesting.
When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples,
“Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” John 6:12 NIV
With so much abundance, why is it important nothing be wasted? With so much to be freely given, does it really matter if they leave some crusts on the ground? Actually, it does matter. Overabundance can be dangerous to our character because it can breed inattention. God gives more than enough. He wants to relate to us constantly, but it is still our job to protect that relationship, to take care of it faithfully and carefully. We must always remember this connection is divine.
So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
John 6:13 NIV
The disciples gather twelve baskets overflowing! Twelve is the story of the Church through time – from the 12 Tribes of the Old Testament, linking to the 12 Apostles of the New Testament. These baskets are a never-ending supply for each of them to take out into the world. The gospel is for all tribes, all nations, for all time. An ongoing meal we all share.
The LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands.
He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness.
These forty years the LORD your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything. Deuteronomy 2:7 NIV
We have been promised that our God has been with us always. From the beginning until the current day, God’s people still “lack nothing” that we need for our spirit to survive and thrive. Thanks be to God.
by Carie Grant
