Lodge Service (3)

Feeding the Hungry

As we look around our world, we have seen many that are hungry and destitute.

I believe that it was in the 1980’s that organizations like World Vision brought it to our attention that there were millions of starving people in Africa. There are still many places where people have less than what they need to live on. This can be caused by war, famine, and a poor economy.

Today I want to read a story from the Bible where Jesus had compassion on hungry people. In Canada, we might not be physically hunger, but there is a spiritual hunger in each one of us that only God can satisfy.

Let’s read

John 6:1–14 NIV

Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. The Jewish Passover Festival was near. When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

There are some important lessons that we can take from this story.

1. Jesus cares...

Jesus could have sent the people away hungry. There may have been 15-20000 people because there were 5000 men. Could you imagine how much food it would take to satisfy that many?

Jesus knew what He was going to do, but He asked Philip where they were going to get food for all the people.

The crowd followed Jesus because He had compassion on them and healed them. After He had taught them, and healed them. When He saw that they were hungry, He wanted to feed them.

Sometimes we need to meet people’s physical needs, so that God can minister to their spiritual needs.

2. Jesus meets our needs

Let’s not be reluctant to come to the Lord. James 4 says that we have not because we ask not. God’s resources aren’t limited. His love, His power and His grace has no limit.

Jesus saw the need and He supplied the need.

Philippians 4:19 NIV

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Sometimes we get our wants and needs mixed up.

In Matthew 6:25

Matthew 6:25 NIV

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

Then Jesus said,

Matthew 6:33–34 NIV

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

My last point is

3. Jesus will use what we have...

Sometimes we pray and we ask God to work in our lives, and He’s willing, but He wants to use what we have.

Andrew, Peter’s brother came with a little boy who had 5 small barley loaves and two fish and Jesus gave thanks and He blessed it.

I find this interesting, When they went to collect the leftovers, there were twelve baskets. In other words, there was more left over than what they started with.

Sometimes we might think that we don’t much to offer. We might think that God can use somebody else, but God isn’t finished with us yet.

God might want us to pray for somebody, maybe our families. Maybe God wants us to share a kind word to somebody, or do something to encourage our neighbour.

Sometimes we just don’t know what we can offer, it seems so small…but

God can do much with little.

Let’s pray!