I Don’t Think I Can Do That!

Five loaves.  Two fish.  5,000 hungry people.  Sounds like a problem to me.  And I’m not talking about too many people and not enough chicken and noodles at the family reunion kind of problem.  The disciples faced an insurmountable challenge, presented not just by the circumstances, but voiced by the Messiah, the Creator of all things:

“You give them something to eat.”  “But we only have five loaves and two fish here,” they said to Him.  “Bring them here to Me,” (Jesus) said.  Matthew 14:16-18

The fact that there were hungry people who had been hanging around them all day was quite enough to make them feel guilty.  Now they were being told to solve the problem.  Impossible, can’t you see that?  Have you been there?  Circumstances that are out of your control, yet you feel responsible to fix things that aren’t your fault?  Relationships that have fallen apart but you don’t have the power to piece them back together?  Maybe something simpler, like someone you love that always seems to have too much month and not enough money. It’s not like you’re rich, so why should you be expected to do anything?  Unreasonable.

Why is it that you, a follower of Jesus Christ, are always looked to as the problem-solver in the lives of those around you?  Why do you have to bear that burden?  Because you are connected to the One who CAN make a difference in the lives of others.  What did Jesus say to the disciples when they did a quick analysis of their assets and determined they couldn’t handle the problem?  He said, “Bring me what you have and I’ll show you what can be accomplished.”  I added that last part, but we all know what Jesus meant when he responded to them.  Jesus wasn’t the kind of person to give up or give in, so neither should we.

It’s vital when faced with difficult challenges to understand all your assets.  The disciples had five loaves and two fish.  But they failed to consider their greatest asset – their connection to a God who can do anything.  Ephesians 3:20 says, “God…is able through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”  The disciples had been with Jesus and yet underestimated their ability to handle the hard stuff.  Is it any wonder that we do the same?  But WE are the agent for change and healing in our world.  We believers.  If we don’t, who will?  We might want to pass the problem off to Jesus like disciples handing over a little boy’s lunch.  But He already passed the torch to us.  Look at just a few of the challenges Jesus gave us in the passage we call the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:4-9:

God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.
God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.
God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.
God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. 

Hungry people.  Hurting people.  Broken lives.  Lost souls.  Who’s doing all that wonderful stuff?  You are.  Tally your assets and abilities and then ask God to multiply them and use YOU.  The crowd is just too big to ignore.

                   

Jacob