God Wants Whatever I Have

In review of John 6:5b-6 it says, “‘Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?’ He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.”

Bottom Line:

God always has the answer before you even know the problem

What this means to me:

God may present me with a difficult question that I alone do not know how to answer.  He may be doing this to test me, for he likely already has in mind what he is going to do. He just wants me to bring what I have.

This passage is part of the story of Jesus feeding 5,000 people with only five loaves of bread and two fish. Seems a bit strange that out of 5,000 people, only one person brought a lunch. It’s likely that a lot of people were hiding a picnic basket under their robes because they didn’t want to share with anybody else. But one little boy offered the bread and fish that he packed for his lunch. He gave Jesus what little he had, and God used it not just to feed a lot of people but also to show them how much he cared and how powerful he is.

What I’m learning is that God always starts with what I have. I may not have much time or money, and I may not think I have much in the way of talent.

But I can give God everything in my life. I can give him my heart and reputation. I can give him my past, present, and future. It may not be much, but I can give him my five loaves and two fish.

In John 6:5-6 Jesus asks, “‘Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?’ He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do” (NIV).

Jesus wasn’t sweating how to feed 5,000 people. He already had in mind what he was going to do. He saw the need long before they did. And he had a plan.

One truth I need understand: God always has the answer before I even know the problem. God is not sweating my unsolvable problem. It’s not too late in the day for Jesus. He saw my problem long before I did. He knew it was coming, and he already had a plan for it. God knows the solution to my problem before I even recognize it’s a problem.

So why do I worry. I just need to admit that I have an unsolvable problem, and then give God everything I have.

I have to admit, my first reaction to problems is to try to solve it with my own power / resources. Often I think this is because I need to be strong and overcome problems on my own. At times I forget to even bring God into the equation.

In summary, God may present me with a difficult question that I alone do not know how to answer.  He may be doing this to test me, for he likely already has in mind what he is going to do. He just wants me to bring what I have. It’s important for me to give what I have and surrender it God. It’s at this point that I learn to rely on him and not on myself.