When I worked as a computer programmer, I had a friend, Brian, that I would take walks with almost every day. We’d leave at lunchtime and walk through the Wendy’s at the end of the street. We’d then proceed along our normal path down a side road behind Best Buy.
Our conversations varied from day to day. Some days we’d talk about religion, and some days we’d talk about family. However, one topic that arose fairly often was that of work. We had started working at the company as website designers, but he was hired a week before me. Over time, I moved on to be programmer and he began to climb the ranks as a supervisor.
In my area of the company, things were pretty laid back. We built the backbone and the framework upon which everything else functioned. While we had pressure to finish tasks on time and with a high standard, it was also understood that we wanted to take the time to get things right the first time.
Brian, however, was in charge of the project managers. The project managers were the ones that would work with the customers throughout the entirety of the project. If the customer had any problems, it was up to the project manager to contact the appropriate department to get the problem resolved. If the project managers couldn’t resolve the issue, or if they didn’t do it as quickly as the customer wished, the complaints would be passed up to Brian.
As I’m sure you can imagine, not all project managers were created equal. He had some that were rock stars that would take on many projects at once and would juggle them with extreme precision. There were others that couldn’t even seem to handle a hand full of projects.
During our walks Brian would vent his frustrations about his predicament. He never seemed to have enough qualified workers to pass out the vast number of projects he was expected to complete. On one hand he had workers that he couldn’t trust to do the job right, and on the other hand he had workers that were already overwhelmed by the sheer number projects he’d already given them.
He valued the workers that took on more than their share of projects, but truth be told, he needed them to take on more. Unfortunately, he had no way of compensating them for their extra effort. He had an enormous job that needed to be done, but he didn’t seem to have the proper resources to ensure that the job was done well.
Many of you can relate to that. Maybe you’ve been in a job or are currently in a job that you don’t have the resources you need to accomplish the assigned tasks. Maybe as a parent you feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day to properly teach and instruct your children while also taking care of your house, spouse, and the other activities to which you’re committed.
If you feel that way, you’re in good company. Not only are there millions of Americans that feel the same way, but your feelings are no different from those of Jesus’ disciples. In Mark 6:30-44 we find a situation in which Jesus has asked his disciples to do the impossible.
by Mattia Preti
As we begin to look at this passage, we must first establish the context in which this scene is taking place. Just a few verses before this passage we read about the death of John the Baptist. Jesus and his disciples then take the boat across the lake to a quiet and deserted place. However, Jesus’ fame causes many to follow.
You would think that Jesus, being in much need of a reprieve, might have avoided the crowd so that he could have the solitude he sought. However, in seeing the people he has compassion on them. They are like sheep without a shepherd. Like sheep, they were without direction. Without a shepherd to guide them, they would likely perish (spiritually, not physically). So it is that even in his distress Jesus shows compassion. He takes the time to teach them, and when the day was getting late, he cared for their physical needs as well.
It’s at this point that Jesus comes off as one of the most unreasonable bosses in the world. After assessing the situation, the disciples come to Jesus and recommend that he send the people away so that they might find food to eat.
We’ve all been there before. Seeing a potential problem, you take the initiative. You assess the situation and come up with the most reasonable solution to the problem. You write out your ten page report making sure that you have contingency plans in place for even the most bizarre situations. You then bring this all to your supervisor expecting to get a pat on the back for your initiative and thorough planning. However, instead of going with your plan your boss decides to go in a completely ludicrous direction and invariably puts you in charge.
This is the situation in which the disciples find themselves. They see the problem and the most reasonable solution. They bring their findings to Jesus, recommending that he sends the crowds to find food, and instead he flips it around and tells them, “You give them something to eat.”
The disciples then did what any reasonable person would do and began to point out the flaw in the new plan. They quickly crunch some numbers and determine that it would cost eight month’s wages in order to buy enough loaves of bread to feed the people. They voice their concerns, but Jesus’ only reply is, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.”
It may seem here that Jesus is being extremely unreasonable. However, as we take a closer look we discover that the disciples are suffering from a syndrome that each of us have learned to cope with over time. They suffer from a syndrome known as real life.
Let’s step back for a moment. These men have been working hard to complete the ministry that Jesus has given them. Amidst all of that they then had to bury their longtime teacher and friend, John the Baptist. Remember, many of Jesus’s disciples had previously been John’s disciples. They all take off for a solitary place only to be followed by a crowd of people. Instead of seeking a new solitary place, Jesus proceeds to engage and teach the people. The day is finally over and the disciples want nothing more than to take a minute, but instead Jesus tasks them with the impossible.
I heard a story the other day about a mighty warrior. This warrior sat mounted upon his mighty horse. As he travelled down the road people and animals scurried out of his way. As he travel, he noticed along his path, in the middle of the road, lay a sparrow. The sparrow was on it’s back with its feet straight up in the air.
The warrior climbed down from his horse and knelt down by the bird in order to determine what was going on. “Are you dead?” the warrior asked. “If not, why are you laying in the middle of the road with your feet in the air?”
The bird replied, “I am not dead, sir. I heard the sky might fall down, so I’m helping to hold it up.”
The warrior roared with laughter at this response. After he’d had a good laugh, he wiped his eyes and asked the bird, “Even if the sky did fall down, what difference could you possibly make with those puny, spindly little legs?”
The sparrow replied, “Well, you do what you can do.”
This is the crux of generous living. You do what you can do. Many times as we look at this story, we’re too anxious to jump ahead to the miracle of feeding the five thousand that we miss the situation that leads up to it.
by Lambert Lombard
The disciples counted up their resources, what food they had, and bring it to Jesus. He takes the food, blesses it, and gives it back to them. Under his direction, they pass out the food just as they were instructed. They did what they could, and through the power of Christ their resources were made sufficient.
Take a look at your life and the tools and activities that fall under the banner of faithful discipleship, our stewardship giving, our sharing of time and talents, teaching in Sunday school, perhaps volunteering to serve the poor, or possibly sharing in visitation ministry. Faithfulness is not a matter of great resources. It’s not a matter of having more money, more time, more talent, or more skill. Instead, it’s doing what you can do with what you already have. It is in this mystery of faith, when we’re engaged in doing what we can do that we discover Christ’s divine presence and blessing. In Jesus’ hands, a little is more than enough.
Too many times we make excuses for why we can’t do something. We don’t make enough money to give. We don’t have enough talent to teach. We don’t have enough time to lead. Just like the disciples, we object and say that the job is too big, but Jesus tells us to take inventory. We come back and say, “See, we don’t have enough,” but Jesus says to offer what you have and to allow him to make it work.
No matter how small or insignificant you may see your contribution, it doesn’t matter. Jesus isn’t interested in how much you have to offer. He’s interested in your willingness to use the resources you’ve been given, your money, time, and skills, to impact the lives of others for his kingdom. You do what you can with what you have, and he is faithful to use it to make an impact.
Don’t be afraid to take that step. Don’t be afraid to trust him. Jesus didn’t make the bread and fish multiply until the disciples were already handing it out. He will use whatever you have to accomplish great things. You have to be willing to do more if you want to see the miracles Jesus will provide.