We have all read in the Scriptures where Jesus fed the five thousand as well as the account when Jesus fed the four thousand. Many applications have been drawn from this passage and applied to our lives, but I would like to draw one small application out of these passages that God has shown me.
In John’s account of the five thousand, he mentions a little lad who brought five barley loaves and two small fishes, and although his little offering was criticized by the disciples, it was accepted and blessed by the Saviour. This lad’s offering, when given to Jesus, was a blessing to the whole multitude. Even in the case where the four thousand were fed, someone had to bring the food; it did not just appear out of nowhere. Often times as Christian we come to the house of God expecting someone else to bring our lunch. Many Christians come to church expecting the preacher to feed them, the song leader to lift them up, or maybe a Sunday school teacher to encourage them. This is all well and good from time to time; however, God does not want our lives to be characterized by living in spiritual ICU. God saved us so that we would be a blessing to others and help them get what they need from the Lord.
As a song leader, I see people who drag into church looking half dead and expecting me to sing their favorite songs in order to put them in an attitude of worship. I have yet to succeed. Often times, people come to the house of God with the attitude that the purpose of the service is to prop them up or give them an energy boost so that they will be able to make it to the next service rather that seeing the service as an opportunity to help someone or offer a word of testimony to encourage a disheartened brother or sister. When Christians come to the service with a heart and attitude to serve God and worship Him, not only does it please the Lord, but it is a blessing to the whole church.
As much of a blessing as these accounts of our Lord feeding the multitudes have been to our hearts, they would have never happened had not some unnamed person sacrificed their food for the wellbeing of others. It took someone with enough foresight to sacrifice on the behalf of those who lacked forethought, and, as a result, God was pleased and everyone was benefited. God forbid that there are those in our churches that never prepare for the service. God has saved us and blessed us with the Holy Scriptures There in no reason why anyone who is born again should live on spiritual welfare.
If we were to be honest with ourselves, there are only a handful of people in our churches that bear the spiritual load. The others are living on spiritual welfare. Regardless of how this passage may be preached, if it was not for the generosity of the little lad, there would have been no meal that day. This is the case in both accounts when Jesus feed the multitude. If there had not been a sacrifice, there would have been no supply.
The moral of the story is quite simple. What did you bring when you went to see Jesus? When you go to church what do you bring to lay at the Masters feet? If many Christians would be honest they would have to admit that they are living on spiritual welfare.
As I began to pray and get ready for the service this past Sunday morning, this though hit home in my heart. Every time I go to church, I want to bring something that the Master can use to help people.
-By Adam Shirley
