Bring What You Have

Bring What You Have


Scripture:
“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”
— John 6:9


Reflection:

Scarcity often makes us despise what God can use. When Andrew found the boy with five barley loaves and two fish, he saw something, but he still struggled to see possibility. He noticed the lunch, but he also noticed the crowd. He recognized there was something available, but his conclusion was still shaped by scarcity.

“What are they for so many?” That question is familiar to many of us. What is this little salary for so many bills? What is this small gift for such a large assignment? What is this limited experience for such a big opportunity? What is this small church for such a big city? What is this little strength for such a long journey?

The loaves were barley loaves, the bread of the poor. They were not impressive. They were not refined. They did not look like the kind of resource that could feed thousands.
But Jesus did not reject them. He said, in essence, bring them here.

This is the heart of faith. It does not deny that what we have may look small. It simply refuses to conclude that small means useless. God has always used what people were willing to surrender.

Moses had a rod. David had a sling. Samson had a jawbone. The boy had five loaves and two fish. The issue was never whether the object looked impressive. The issue was whether it could be placed in God’s hands.

Sometimes we hold back because what we have feels too small to matter. We wait until we have more confidence, more money, more training, more influence, or more certainty. But multiplication does not begin while we are hiding what we have. It begins when we surrender it.

Jesus took the bread and gave thanks. He did not complain about what was missing. He blessed what was available. That is a mindset shift. Instead of saying, “This is not enough,” we begin to say, “Lord, thank You for what is in my hands. I give it to You.” When what is little is placed in the hands of Jesus, it becomes more than enough.


Reflection Questions:

• What have I been despising because it looks too small or ordinary?
• Am I waiting for more before I surrender what I already have to God?
• How can I begin to thank God for what is in my hands instead of focusing only on what is missing?
  
  
  

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I bring You what I have. Even when it looks small, ordinary, or insufficient, I choose to place it in Your hands. Forgive me for despising the seed, the gift, the opportunity, or the resource You have already given me. Teach me to give thanks for what is available and to trust You for multiplication. In Jesus’ name, Amen.


Scripture References:
John 6:8–11, Exodus 4:2, 1 Samuel 17:40–50, Zechariah 4:10