I've been thinking about the time Jesus fed 5,000 with five loaves and two fish.
I'm impressed that a young guy gave Jesus his loaves and fish. Pretty generous, don't you think?
But, my pondering has more to do with how he got the fish to begin with.
Before he gave it he had to pack it and carry it with him.
Before he packed it he had to preserve it.
Before he preserved it he had to get it.
Where'd he get the fish?
Did he get out in the boat and cast the nets?
Did he get up early and labor for the catch?
Did he catch 'em and clean 'em?
Is he the one who got them from sea to shore?
I know this: If someone has something to give, they got it somewhere, sometime, someway, somehow. Somebody worked for it, caught it, harvested it or produced it. You can't give it, if you don't have it. And to have it you may have to work for it.
My friend Paul had to make some effort to get this fish. It cost him something and if he hadn't invested the time, energy, money and effort to make the catch, he wouldn't have this fish.
So, how about you?
Got fish?
What are you working to produce, develop, catch, harvest or create?
A great idea?
A well-honed skill?
Hard-earned money?
A week carved from a busy schedule?
Loving arms to rock a baby?
A strong commitment to pass along a well-informed faith?
The 2nd Saturday of each month to care for the poor?
You can only give what you have.
John 6:5-9 - When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "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. Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!" Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish... "
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