In the book of John Chapter 6:5-13 we come across the story
of Jesus and how he fed a huge multitude with five loaves of bread and two
fish. This story has a number of great lessons for us.
Like Philip we find it hard to understand how so much can
come from so little. When Jesus tells him about the need to feed the multitude Philip
puts on his thinking cap. His conclusion: It would take a lot of money to feed
this multitude so if I were you Jesus, I would abandon the whole idea.
Philip knew only the natural dimension of things. Jesus
introduced him to the supernatural. Gratitude is a lever in the supernatural dimension
of things. It causes a shift in possibilities. Philip failed to understand that
Jesus was present and with him the backing of heaven. How many times have you
been in a situation that seems impossible and because of fixing your eyes on it
alone, you fail to grasp the truth that Jesus is present? Like Philip we need
to appreciate the presence of Jesus in our situations however dire they may
seem. So gratitude here seems to go beyond just the bread to the one who gives
bread-the bread of life. May we never forget to appreciate Jesus and what he
represents just because we are in a tight spot.
Andrew was slightly better but still wondered how things
would unfold. Andrew went a step further than Philip. He saw the lad with two
fish and five loaves. He appreciated that there was something on the ground to
work with. His view was also limited because he adds a statement that says ‘out
of the realm of possibility’ He also fails to note the presence of Jesus and
his ability to turn things around. You and I are likely to think: What’s wrong
with these guys? But wait a minute. How many times have you been in the exact
same situation and maybe acted worse off? Our natural tendency is to do the
math and conclude; impossible. We never look beyond ourselves and our resources
and that marks the beginning of our issues.
Jesus does two things which are important for the miracle.
He teaches us the formula for multiplication.
He gives thanks-Gratitude. The first thing he does is to
give thanks for what is at hand. Many times we despise what we have at hand and
as a result, we fail to capitalize on it. The truth is you will never tap into
the fullness of what you have until you learn to embrace it. Jesus appreciated
what was available and he saw in it the possibility of sufficiency. The
appreciation and celebration of your small wins paves the way for bigger wins.
David got the courage of facing Goliath because he had already seen God give him
victory over lions and bears. He didn’t despise the formative victories and
they formed the basis for his greatest victory.
He distributes-breaking it down. One way to look at the
whole issue of distribution is to think about him breaking it into pieces and
spreading it around. When I think about it (and this is just my thinking)
breaking it down means looking beneath the surface. On the surface he only had
two fish and five loaves but beneath the surface was potential to feed the
multitude. One of the challenges we have as humans is we gloss over the good
things and over analyze the negative things that happen around us. We are very
good at meditating on our low moments and experiences and very poor at meditating
on the good side of things. Next time you are about to complain about your lot,
take a moment and appreciate the intricacy of God’s goodness to you. It will go
a long way in unlocking greater levels of goodness.
Let’s think naturally for a moment. Take the case of two
children you have. You give every one of them a gift. One walks away happy
about it and expresses zero gratitude. The other one is very happy as well but
they remember to express gratitude and remind you of all the good things you have
done in the past. Who between the two would you be more inclined to do more for?
Remember I said you think naturally. If you are honest with me, you would be
driven to do more for the second child. Everyone loves to be appreciated. And when
appreciated, they are driven to do more. That is part of how gratitude leads to
multiplication.
The result-Enough food for everyone and some of it remains.
On account of Jesus breaking the bread and giving thanks for it, there is an
overflow of food for the whole multitude. Instead of going on and on about many
things, why don’t you challenge yourself to be more grateful for the next
thirty days and see what it will yield. Gratitude changes your perspective and
you begin to see more than you were seeing before. Try it.
The lesson-Do not despise what you have at hand. Search the
depths of it by breaking it down and be grateful for it. What you are grateful
for you attract more of, increases in value and as such can go a longer
distance.
This is one of the lessons I pass on in the book Blessed to
be a Blessing. It is a call to gratitude as you reflect on the various
manifestations of the blessing of God upon your life. If you want a guide to
help you reflect on God’s goodness then feel free to order a copy by sending me
a message on +254725832477.
