A Lunch of Faith

By Paula Williamson, guest writer

Paul Harvey wrote a column titled “If I Were the Devil” that I heard quoted years ago. It’s worth Googling if you’ve never heard of it. Most of Paul Harvey’s predictions from that program have come to pass. When I come up with my own “If I Were the Devil” statement, it would be to convince people that what they do or don’t do doesn’t matter. Whether what we do is for good or evil matters. Everything matters! Scripture recounts Jesus speaking to over 5,000 people who had not eaten. Taking stock of the situation, Jesus asks them to find out who has food. One small boy had five barley loaves and two fish. He could have hidden his lunch and kept it to himself. What a bold act of faith it was to imagine that his small lunch would matter.

It Is Written

JOHN 6:9 -13 There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are these for so many people ?” ¹⁰Jesus said, “Have the people recline to eat .” Now there was plenty of grass in the place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in giving thanks He distributed them to those who were reclining; likewise also of the fish, as much as they wanted. ¹² And when they had eaten their fill, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftover pieces so that nothing will be lost.” ¹³ So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with pieces from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.

Small Lunch, Big God

It’s not what we have or don’t have that matters. It’s offering what we have to God, whether it is much or little. In fact, the older I get, the more I realize that it is in my lack that God’s hand moves most. What we do matters. I challenge you to put your impossible situation into the trustworthy hands of God.

Prayer

Lord, You are a good Father, the owner of the cattle on a thousand hills, the King and creator of the Universe, designed for us to enjoy. I place all that I am, all that I am not, all that I have, and all my lack into Your faithful hands. Do with me as You wish. I anticipate and watch for what You will do, like a child awaiting Christmas morning. I thank You in advance. Like the little drummer boy, I don’t have much, but whatever I have, I give to You.

Takeaway

What I do or don’t do matters!