Bring Them to Me

So I’m reading in the 14th chapter of Matthew’s gospel. A crowd surrounds Jesus, hanging on His words.

As it got toward evening, His disciples told Him to “send the crowds away, that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” Jesus answered, “They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!” Confused, they looked around and said, “But, we have here only five loaves and two fish.”

Jesus answered, “Bring them to Me.”

You know the rest of the story. Jesus took the few pieces of food and created a feast for several thousand.

Our culture has drilled it into our subconscious for so long, it is now probably part of our DNA: Success is measured only in ‘bigger-better-more.’ Unless we have the numbers to prove it, we let ourselves tell ourselves we’re failures, useless for the Kingdom, disappointing to God.

But (and this should surprise no one who knows Christ), He is not interested in bigger-better-more. He never has been. What He does want is whatever we have to offer, if we offer it freely into His hands.

Oh, and this now occurs to me as I write; We ought not to expect Him to show us what He does with our ‘little.’ In fact, He usually does not show us because, well . . .  it’s none of our business. We are servants.

He would like us to be content simply with that.

One day, I hope to really learn that lesson.