Matthew 15:29-39

“How many loaves have you?” Said Jesus.  “Seven,” they answered, “and a few small fish.”  Telling the crowd to recline on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish, and after giving thanks, broke them, and gave them to his followers, and they gave them to the crowds.  Everyone was satisfied with what they had to eat, and they picked up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left.  The men who ate were four thousand in number without counting women and children.  Then after dismissing the crowds, he got into the boat, and went to the region of Magadan.  Matthew 15: 34-39

Jesus didn’t want to send the people away hungry, “for they might faint on their way home.”  

He didn’t want to send them away hungry.

Jesus obviously cared deeply for the crowds there.  He knew they had nothing to eat with them.  So he gave to them from what little he and his followers had.  

He shared from what little they had, which wasn’t much, but he shared it anyway. 

I wonder if his followers grumbled about that.  I wonder if they were thinking, “but what will we eat?”  Or were they good with sharing what little they had.  Did they care like Jesus did?

In the verses just before this, Jesus said to a woman, “Your confidence is great, It will be as you wish!”  Her confidence, her faith was so great that she received that for which she was asking.

Did Jesus’ followers have this confidence as well?  Did they know that there would be plenty for everyone?  for them? Did they have faith in what Jesus could and would do?

My question to myself as I read this is, “Am I giving enough from what I have, to help others?  To feed others?  To be sure that others in my community are taken care of?”  I’ll answer honestly, I could probably do more.  With the state of our country, I need to do more.

How about you?  Pause for a moment, think on it.  I’ll wait.

What we have to give doesn’t have to be money, or food, or clothing, though those are greatly needed, it can be time, it can be care.  It’s about sharing whatever it is we have.  

Followers of Jesus who have should share with those who don’t.  Whether that’s food, money, time, whatever, we are called, as Jesus followers, to share.

May those who have, lovingly and joyfully share with those who have not.

Until next time…♥️