SWORD OF THE SPIRIT 1421
“You Feed Them”
Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” – Matthew 14:15-16
You Feed Them: An Impossible Command? – Our Lord is the God of possibilities. From the day-to-day provision of our needs in this world to salvation through faith in Jesus, all things, all things are possible with Him.
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” – Mark 10:27
You Feed Them: A Matter of the Heart – Jesus challenged His disciples with the impossibility of His command for them to give the multitude something to eat and He challenges us today through this Word.
He initially challenges our heart attitude as His faithful stewards:
Are we greedy and covetous?
Do we truly understand that all we have is His?
Do we love the world more than we love Him?
Do we trust the mammon of this world more than we trust Him?
If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? – James 2:15-16
But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? – 1 John 3:17
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. – 2 Corinthians 9:7, 8:12
If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. – Isaiah 58:10
You Feed Them: Trusting the Power of God – We are exhorted in Proverbs 3:27 to not withhold good when it is in our power to act.
The word translated ‘Power’ is ‘El’ which is the singular Hebrew word most often rendered “God” stressing His inherent power and strength given to us through the Holy Spirit.
The power we have that enables our willing heart to be good stewards of God’s provision for us and through us to others comes from Him, not by our own works of the flesh.
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. – Proverbs 3:27
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. – Acts 1:8
You Feed Them: With Contentment through Christ – It is easy for us to take ‘ownership’ and ‘possess our possessions’. It is easier to be generous when we have an abundance, and it is all too easy to become tight-fisted when resources dwindle. Contentment and faithful stewardship in both extremes and everything in between is a learned spiritual discipline.
I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content… I can do all things through him who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:11-13
But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. – 1 Timothy 6:6-8
You Feed Them as Faithful Stewards – With the proper attitude of heart, content through faith and trust in Jesus, we can as His faithful stewards cheerfully administer His varied gifts and grace.
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. – 1 Peter 4:10-11
And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise. “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. – Luke 3:11; Galatians 6:10
Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. – Proverbs 3:28; Galatians 6:9
Response Prayer: Lord, I repent of the times I have looked the other way concerning those in need and tight-fistedly held onto the resources You supplied to me. I repent of my idolatrous trust in the things of this world instead of being totally abandoned to You in faith and trust.
I ask that You transform my heart by Your Holy Spirit to make me and mold me into the contented, faithful steward of Your varied gifts and grace that You desire me to be. I ask in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.
