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Feeding of the Four Thousand, Giovanni Lanfranco

What starts the multiplication of time, energy and resources? One thing I am convinced: Giving what you have away! Giving away some of the bread, fish, time, money, energy, ideas you have is a sure way to get more–just as releasing the seven loaves fed the four thousand.

One of the challenges in reading Scripture for me is to reconcile the majestic mighty figure of Christ, who could deal with great crowds with the friend, who is in the room with me, right now, surveying me with a slight smile.

It takes an act of imagination to see Jesus fully, as he really is.

Matthew 15

Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand

²⁹ Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. ³⁰ Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them.
With the power which is available to us who believe.
One of the most outstanding traits of Jesus is his kindness.

³¹ The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.

³² Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”

He is amazing. Practicality and kindness mingled with power. (I love him!)

He is a God of compassion.

³³ His disciples answered, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?”

³⁴ “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.

Again the practicality

“Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”

Small supplies are no impediment for God.

³⁵ He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. ³⁶ Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. ³⁷ They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.³⁸ The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children. ³⁹ After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan.

That’s amazing. How does that work today? Could we feed 4000 with 7 loaves, and a few small fish?

Dunno.

However, I do know, from experience (from starting a now flourishing small business with almost no capital) that God can multiply our time, talent, energy. That everything big starts with the tiny seeds of an idea, which he gives us.

Small supplies are no impediment for God.

And later, his body will be broken to delight and thrill and feed hungry, restless hearts.