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Frequently as we speak about or study the story of
the multiplication of the loaves and fishes to
feed the 5,000 our primary attention goes to the
miracle Jesus worked. Certainly the miracle is
attention-getting and yet another view into His
lordship. But, in focusing only on Jesus we miss
an important, perhaps subtle, message about our
responsibility in God’s working.
The headline beginning this note is a snippet from
the Gospel according to Saint Luke (9:13) that
makes up the larger story of the feeding of the
5,000. The apostles appealed to Jesus to send the
crowd away from their desolate location as the day
was drawing to a close and there was no food or
lodging available. Jesus turned the situation back
on the apostles and said, “You give them something
to eat.”
There is no doubt that Jesus was well aware of the
situation. He could have taken action earlier,
working miracles to provide lodging and food. But
he waited and made an important point. He waited
until the apostles saw the need, and then made it
clear that they were to be the seed of the
solution. Yes, he would work a miracle, but it
would be from what the apostles offered.
God certainly can, and does, provide for our
needs. He at times will provide well beyond our
needs. But where would humanity’s relationship
with God be if our every need were filled without
our asking and without our participation? It would
be an entirely one-way relationship.
We are dependent on God. He is generous in
providing. But in return he expects that we will
acknowledge our dependency, respond in unfettered
love, and participate in his acts of love and
creation by letting go of what he has given us so
that he can work miracles with it.
That is stewardship. God has blessed us. We are
to notice and be concerned with the needs of his
creation and creatures around us. We are to act by
giving the best of what he has provided us, the
first-fruits, the tithe, to those needs. God will
work his miracles and multiply what we have given.
Perhaps it seems like a silly game. Why doesn’t
God just take care of everything himself? Why give
us what is needed and then desire that we pass it
along? God could do it without us. But then what
would our participation be? And why would there
even be a reason for our existing? It is an
absolute gift, the gift of life, that God has
created us to participate with him in his work. It
is an absolute gift that God provides us the seeds
to sow, the sharing of our time, talent, and
treasure, to be part of his miracle working.
How do we respond? Is it appropriate to say, “No,
I will take care of what I want to take care of
first?” Or do we, in thanksgiving, give first to
God’s work? Do we first sow the seeds for God’s
miracle working? Imagine what a vibrant beacon of
Christ in the world Christ Church would be if
everyone one of us were sowing such seeds! |
