Commandment 46: “Bring them to me.”
Mt. 14:18: Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
Sometimes we may be willing, but feel that our provisions are limited and unable to meet the needs before us. The disciples were willing but had only a few loaves and fishes and were well aware that this would not feed the crowd that had come to hear and see Jesus. As the Wise Master, our Lord used every opportunity to teach his disciples and here He reveals a process for ministry in a very distinct step by step pattern which I have found many times to be effective over the years.
1. Bring what you have to me - (vv18) Though we in ourselves may lack what is needed, our Father in heaven always has enough and lacks nothing. Many times we do nothing because we feel that we do not have what is required. Too often we decide what our limitations are and refuse to step beyond what we have experienced in the past, possibly thinking that to do so would represent pride.
Many consider that they have a certain gift or calling and can do no other than that. But what good is a healing gift if someone needs a prophetic word? What good is an evangelistic message to someone who first needs to have his or her hunger dealt with?
Never fall for a strict interpretation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The only limitation that you have is a lack of concern or caring, or a lack of belief and trust. Whatever you have available, if you bring it to Jesus, he can make it sufficient to meet the need. Like the disciples must have felt that day, it is risky for sure to step out into a hungry crowd with only a few crumbs in hand. Still, they took what they had and gave it to Christ and what followed was an eye-opening lesson from the Lord himself.
2. He commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass - A time of crisis can often be the best opportunity to witness for Christ, but sometimes with the problem comes fear and confusion. When you see such things, do you focus on the problem or the solution? As evening was fast approaching Jesus could have sent the multitude to the city or to their homes to find food as his disciples had suggested, but after a day of healing miracles by the Master, they may have been reluctant to leave, hoping for more ministry, or even hoping to become one of his disciples.
Whatever the case, Jesus saw them still gathered there and immediately took the situation into hand. He made them sit down and, apparently, they did so. He was in control and not overwhelmed by the needs of the people. With the people sitting and waiting in expectation it was a perfect time to demonstrate his authority, meet a real need and teach his disciples a great lesson at the same time.
3. And looking up to heaven . . . Don't forget where the supply of every blessing comes from. You may be the tool that God uses, but every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father. It is true that God has the cattle of a thousand hills but we must remember that they are his cattle. We cannot just demand that he release one because a need exists. Sometimes he may withhold his provision on a specific occasion because he sees what you do not see. It may be that his plan for the person you are trying to help may not include meeting their immediate need. There may be disciplines that need to be in place that will provide a more lasting solution for them. The old adage about giving someone a fish or teaching them how to fish has a basis in real wisdom. It is best to seek heavenly advice when looking for heavenly assistance.
4. he blessed . . . the word here translated blessed is eulegeō (yoo-log-eh-o') meaning giving of thanks or pronouncing a benediction or a eulogy as one would at a funeral in remembrance of someone's life. This may have been for the benefit of his disciples to remind them of what God had already done as they walked with Jesus, or it may have been to give thanks to the Father. Either way the resulting lesson is important.
We sometimes think we don't have what is needed and are constantly looking for more when we should be giving thanks for what we already have received from God. Do you find yourself with an attitude of gratitude or an attitude of latitude?
What I mean is, are you constantly aware of what God has already given you, or do you see yourself so far from the center that you couldn't possibly expect Him to go that far for you? Latitude is a measure of distance from the center of the earth to a certain point. If you have an attitude of latitude you might want to draw closer to God by dwelling in the secret place more often. Being close under the shadow of his wings is the best place to be to have an expectation of faith when you need one.
5. and break . . . Had there been a planned catering delivery that day on the side of the desert where Jesus ministered, the people would have been fed and Jesus would have been thanked for his kindness. Instead, he took what was available and broke it, and the multitude was fed by a direct miracle from heaven; a much better finale on this day of miracles.
Jesus must take what we have and break it in order for it to become more. Like a wise nurseryman who prunes his trees to produce more fruit, so does the Lord to those things which we give to Him. Sometimes our best gifts and talents must poured out or broken at the Lords feet so He can touch them and add more value to them for his service.
Paul says that we have this treasure in earthen vessels (broken clay pots). We ourselves are the pots and the treasure that is most valuable to God is often what leaks out of the cracks in our lives. It surprises no one when the brilliant, beautiful and gifted do great things, but when Jesus takes the foolish things (not many wise, mighty or noble) and turns them into vessels of honor and holiness, all are amazed and filled with wonder at the power of our God.
6. and gave to his disciples . . . After Jesus takes what we have, blesses it and breaks it, He gives it back to us transformed and ready to serve to the masses. He requires no brilliance on our parts. Just a willing heart and a life yielded to his will. And we can do no less. Our Master himself learned obedience by the things which he suffered. (Heb. 5:8) So too, those who will be found useful to Him, are those who submit to his reconstruction process. But while He is working on us, He is also working through us, and when God is finished we become tools fit for the Masters hand.
Craig Marlatt