Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But he answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?””Mark 6:36-37 NIV
Mat 14:13 Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."
“Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”” John 6:7
Faced with needy hungry people the disciples were suggesting that these people be send away. Jesus responded by asking the discipleship feed the people.
This shows that we are God’s solution. All those facing challenges should be able to come to the church for help. We should do that which is with us to assist the needy and hungry.
According to John 6 Phillip started to calculate the cost of feeding the people. Typical we are always counting the cost. We forget that Jesus paid for our redemption by His own life. He sacrificed for the world to be saved.
The big lesson in this is that we are God’s solution. He counts on us to step up step in and do something. We are his hand to touch the world with His love. We are His heart to show the world His love.
In exodus 3 God says
“The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.” Exodus 3:7-8
God says I have come down to rescue my people and immediately sends Moses on the mission. In und story While God has come down to rescue the children of Israel He is going to do it through an individual. Whatever God does here on earth He works through His redeemed. Jesus came to die so that through the church His manifold wisdom maybe demonstrated.
Many have been affected one way or another by the coronavirus disease. Manny are left needy. It is up to the believers to rise up and show the glory of God.
The challenge we have in the church of today
- preaching without practice
- Interpretation without implementation
- scrutinizing without serving.
- Instructing without demonstrating
Such faith Jesus rebuked. I’m my 23 He challenges Pharisees for such faith.
According to James
“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.”James 2:14-18
It is time our faith is demonstrate more than it is declared. Some needs that we turn to prayer needs are not prayer needs they are needs for us to do something about. We have invested in things more than we have invested in people. People are reduced to statistics to feel the church not souls to fill heaven. God is looking to us to be both a praying solution and a practical solution. When he came for Israel he picked Moses.
You are Gods love solution. Listen to John
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
1 John 3:16-18
We have to share our material possession with those in need. We are given by God so that we can be a channel of blessing. If whatever God has given you is reaching others you do well
V18 shows that we are to love practically. Reach others not just in word but also through action.
The disciples wanted the people send away but Jesus said you give them something. That is the message today you give them something. God is counting on you. Corona virus has brought many Challenges and needs. What are you doing about those close to you? Jesus says they don’t need to go away you give them something. Church stand up and make a difference.
Please as you do it remember the words of the Lord. ““Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.” Matthew 6:1-2
No tool takes credit. Give glory to God when he uses you as a solution.
Back to James
“If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”James 4:17
Do not sin.
Have a good day go and do likewise.
Bishop Zowa