Jesus blesses in abundance! He often looks beyond our immediate need and provides so much that we have an opportunity to bless others. Unfortunately, at times we see anything beyond what we need then and there as scraps. We are prone to discount or discard any ‘blessing leftovers’.
Feeding the Five Thousand
- Matthew 14:19-20 Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. 20 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained.
Feeding the Four Thousand
- Matthew 15:35-37 So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. 36 And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude. 37 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left.
Our tendency is to become self-reliant in times of abundance and desperate in times of need. Time and again we ungratefully turn our back on the Lord when our needs are met. Then, when we are lacking, we worry ourselves to death and do foolish things to get what we need instead of trusting our loving Father to provide.
- Proverbs 30:7-9 Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die): 8 Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches— Feed me with the food allotted to me; 9 Lest I be full and deny You, And say, “Who is the Lord?” Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God.
Jesus challenged His disciples to face the reality of His deity; the miracles He performed proved who He was, God in the flesh. His love, mercy, grace and provision challenge us in the same way today.
- Mark 8:19-21 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?” They said to Him, “Twelve.” 20 “Also, when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of fragments did you take up?” And they said, “Seven.” 21 So He said to them, “How is it you do not understand?”
Another story in the Bible that demonstrates the value of ‘blessing leftovers’ is the gentile woman from Canaan who showed tremendous faith that Jesus could save her demon-possessed daughter. Her faith and willingness to accept mere remnants of the blessings intended for the Jews resulted in her daughter’s healing (Matthew 15:21-28).
- Matthew 15:27 And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”
In 2 Corinthians, our Lord speaks very clearly through the Apostle Paul to tell us that our abundance is meant to bless a source of blessing to others.
- 2 Corinthians 8:13-15 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; 14 but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. 15 As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”
- 2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
What are you doing with the ‘blessing leftovers’ in your life?
- Are you carelessly discarding them as something of no value?
- Are you hoarding them to protect against potential future hardship?
- Are you using them to earn the favor of those in need?
- Are you waiting for someone you feel comfortable approaching to beg for your leftovers?
I am guilty!
Trust in the Lord; give it away!
- Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
- Acts 20:35 I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Prayer
Lord, You know that I love You. But You also know my worries and fears. Forgive me for holding on when I should be letting go. Guide me through Your Spirit and Your Word to give however, whenever and whatever You want me to give. Help me not to use ‘being responsible’ as an excuse not to bless others. I praise You and thank You in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
