I guess it’s whether we see the glass as half-full or half-empty. I admit that hearing and reading the news makes me very cynic: poverty levels in developing nations; the hopelessness of the homeless; the social isolation of sick elderly… I mean, what can my little bit do in the face of so much need? Lessons to be heard on the upcoming weekend acknowledge that the need is great, BUT that God’s aid is never scarce.
II KINGS 4:42-44 tells the story of an unnamed fellow who was doing OK, although he lived in turbulent times. (Don’t we all?) He brought a significant share of his “first fruits” to the prophet Elisha–whose name translates to “God has granted salvation”–and God had him distribute the food to the people there, collecting many crumbs. The brief reading says 1), that there really is need in the world; and 2), that God surprises us with the realization of many blessings. In the midst of need, God provides. Can you risk thinking outside the box?
EPHESIANS 3:14-21 has lots to talk about–the verse that jumped out at me is the 21st, “Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine…” God’s provided bounty isn’t dependent upon where we live or with whom; we are not under the rules of “scarcity”. How many good programs never have seen the light of day because “we just don’t have enough__”? The Church at Ephesus and her descendants is commended for risking, and challenged to risk more.
JOHN 6:1-21 is this apostle’s telling of the Feeding of the Great Crowd. The followers of Jesus thought that this doesn’t make any sense at all, but they trusted him enough to do it. At the end of common sense is Jesus, calling the Crowd to enjoy the abundance. “…in the hands of Jesus, little can become much, the few can become the many, and the weak can become strong.” (Cheryl Bridges Johns, in FEASTING on the WORD,B 3:289)
This is hard for me to remember. I grew up (?) pinching pennies and worrying about whether I had “enough”. But I did, through God’s largesse. Maybe this is you, too?
In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King
Please share this with your friends, and join with us every Tuesday to explore scriptural texts which will be presented on the upcoming weekend; at horacebrownking.com
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