Devotional: How We Grow - Bring What You Have
Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” — Matthew 14:16 (NIV)
Have you ever looked at a need and thought, “Someone should do something about that,” only to realize that God might be nudging you? That’s exactly what happened to the disciples. They saw a hungry crowd and thought the only solution was to send them away. But Jesus turned the problem back on them: You give them something to eat.
The disciples’ response? “We only have five loaves of bread and two fish.” They immediately focused on their lack. We do the same thing, don’t we? We see a need, feel a tug on our hearts, but quickly make excuses: I don’t have enough time, resources, or ability. But Jesus isn’t asking for what we don’t have—He’s asking us to bring what we do have.
This is the pattern we see throughout Scripture. Moses told God, “I am slow of speech and tongue.” (Exodus 4:10) when God called him to lead the Israelites. Gideon said, “My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” (Judges 6:15) when God called him to lead. Over and over, people in the Bible have doubted their abilities, yet God used them powerfully. Why? Because they took a step of faith and allowed God to work through them.
When the disciples handed over their meager resources, Jesus took them, blessed them, and did something miraculous. The little they had became more than enough. The same is true for us. God isn’t looking for perfection or abundance; He’s looking for obedience. When we step out in faith, He meets us there and does what only He can do.
The miracle of feeding the five thousand happened in the disciples' hands, not just in Jesus’ hands. As they obeyed and distributed the food, it multiplied. That’s how faith works. We trust, we obey, and as we take action, we see God move. The real question is: Will we trust Him enough to step out, even when we don’t feel ready?
Questions for Reflection
What’s one area where you feel God nudging you to serve or take action?
What excuses have you been making about why you can’t do it?
How might your faith grow if you bring what you have to Jesus and trust Him with the rest?
Prayer
Father, I often focus on what I don’t have instead of trusting You with what I do have. Help me to bring what I have—my time, my skills, my resources—so that You can use them for something greater. Give me the courage to step out in faith, even when I feel inadequate. I trust that You will do more with my offering than I ever could on my own. Amen.
Additional Resources
-Sermon: “The Feeding” by Timothy Keller- Tim Keller explores the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5,000, a story shared in all four gospels. He unpacks the deeper meaning behind Jesus' declaration, "I am the bread of life," and what this symbol teaches us about Jesus' ability to provide for us spiritually.
-Watch: “The Chosen: Jesus Feeds the 5,000” - Watch this clip from the series The Chosen to help visualize the scene.
-Listen: “Fishes and Loaves” by Josiah Queen- Listen to this powerful worship song by Josiah Queen about offering all that we have.
