I just have two fish and a few loaves. That’s it.

That is it.

I don’t come with a feast that’s worthy to be eaten. That’s all I have. The only thing I have is just a small amount.

Just a tiny drop. That’s all I have here for now.

From that crowd of thousands of men, plus women and children, I wonder did anyone else bring anything? I wonder did anyone else have something tucked in their pocket, or tucked in a small bag or shawl? I wonder did anyone else carry anything with them on that day, or were they all honestly unprepared?

Did they really all come out for a gathering and bring nothing of preparation?

I wonder did they really bring nothing? Mothers with their children, did they really have not a bite to eat?

Maybe some of them did. Maybe most of them didn’t. But that is neither here nor there. Because what’s really important in this story is the one who stood and said, I have something to share, even though it’s not much.

It’s the boy who likely raised his hand, who likely made himself known in a vast sea of five thousand, plus maybe more. It’s a little boy who likely drew attention to himself, because he wanted to share, because he wanted to give.

Because he was available. And he made himself available. He made his food available. He said, what I have, I’m just handing it over. What I have, I just give. What I have is not much. It is a meal for one, but it’s yours.

It’s yours, Jesus.

I wonder, did he stand around and shuffle his feet?

Did he wait for the opportunity to speak to someone? I wonder, was he feeling a little bit awkward? I wonder, did he hesitate?

Because who else was making themselves known? Who else was standing forward to give something? We only know of one in this story, and that’s the little boy.

With five loaves of bread and two little fish. We hear of no other person bringing forward their food. I know there’s more than just a little boy here. There are so many people but no one else brought their small feeding to share.

So many people listening to his word. So many people who have gathered here. I wonder who else has something to share. It’s likely you. It’s likely you reading this. You might want to just check your pocket. You might want to just check your bank. You might want to just check your hand.

Check and see what you’ve got today. What’s for lunch today? What is with you right now? What is here that you might step forward and make yourself known with? What is there that you have that you would be willing to offer?

That little thing.

Those two little fish. 🐟

What kind of fish do you have?

What kind of loaves of bread do you have?

And you might be like me, someone who stands and shuffles on the sidelines. Who stands and just waits awkwardly. And says, God, give me an opportunity to make myself known here. Give me an opportunity to give forward my fish.

God, if you want me to give, give me the opportunity to give.

Was it awkward for him? It probably was. But was there something burning on the inside of him that compelled him to move, that was compelling him to release, a fire that was compelling him to give what he had into the hands of the great multiplier.

Stop thinking friend that you don’t have much, because you have so much more than you think. You have so much more than you’ll ever see, so much more than you’ll ever realize you have to give.

God wants to multiply your gifts. 🎁

God wants to multiply your giving.

God wants to multiply and multiply and multiply.

He wants to feed so many people from what you want to give out. And the best is, the best thing of all, right after everyone has eaten and the leftovers have been collected, he says, he will not allow any to go to waste. Wow. Wow.

Nothing to go to waste.

Wow.

Come on.

Step right up friend.

Look for that opportunity. Wait for that moment. You’ve got something here. Right in your hand. Come and give it friend.

Come and give so he can multiply. Come and give so he can feed. Come and give so that nothing that you have here will be wasted.

Father God I thank you for the opportunities that you give us to give. I thank you that you are no respecter of persons. But you are awesome, 🙌 you are happy to take what we have to give.

John 6:9

9‘Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?’

Come and give so that nothing that you have here will be wasted.

Don’t keep your fish, 🐟

Let him use your fish to feed thousands.

🧺 🧺 🧺 🧺 🧺 🧺 🧺 🧺 🧺 🧺 🧺 🧺

John 6:12-13

12When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, ‘Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.’ 13So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.