The feeding of the five thousand in one of the few stories that is in all four Gospels. See Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:31-44, Luke 9:10-17 and John 6:5-15.

There are lessons in here to the Christian about going from the Church into the community. The disciples were with Jesus as he ministered to the people. There are many Churches who have ministries to help those in the community. There are lessons in the feeding of the 5,000 that Christians need to take of and learn.

1. You need a genuine concern for others

The disciples wanted to send the people away. They didn’t want to be bothered and looked for excuses. If you are going to reach out to the community then be prepared to put yourself out. It needs commitment or the community will see that you really don’t care enough. If the need is there then the help needs to follow.

2. God wants to use you!

There wasn’t enough food but Jesus did the miracle and the disciples handed out the food. God uses angels in Heaven and he uses people on Earth. He wants to share his kingdom work with others.

3. We need to make time alone with God

The multitude followed after them. It is hard to get time with God but it is necessary if you are to have compassion on those who are in need. There needs to be a balance between working and seeking God’s blessing and guidance. The spiritual needs to be covered as well as the practical or you can lose sight of your motivation.

4. God wants you to be ready

Jesus puts the onus on the disciples. They didn’t buy more. They used what they had. You need to be ready for emergencies. You need a plan of action. Admin work is important. You need to keep records and follow procedures to ensure there is enough and fraud does not happen.

5. Let nothing go to waste

There is a need for order. Nothing should go to waste. If the planning is right then order follows. There is less likelihood of waste.

6. God will help through hard times

John the Baptist has just been beheaded. Jesus doesn’t stop or give up. Jesus puts the disciples to the test. They have some food but not enough. Jesus blesses the food and there is more. So much more than what they started with!

It is hard to follow Jesus when things are tough. There are seasons we do more and those we do less. It is important to keep a balance and keep going! God will bless your ministry and save many souls.

Categories: John, Luke, Mark, Matthew