No Wastage in Kingdom Abundance
Rev. Enoch Thompson | April 6, 2024 | John 6:12-13
KEY VERSE:
¹² When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." ¹³ So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. John 6:12-13 (NIV)
MESSAGE:
It is surprising how much wastage there is in the handling of what we have received, and yet we turn to ask for more. Individuals, families, and societies throw so much food away annually, and even in poorer parts of the world, failure to process farm products results in bumper farm produce at one time of the year, and extreme lack at another.
With all the supernatural power at His disposal and with the miracle that has just happened, it should seem that the Lord Jesus could call up a miracle at any time. In that event, leftover pieces of bread and fish should have been of no consequence to Him. But not so for the King of the Kingdom. If not for anything at all the left-over pieces could have served as snacks for the crowds on their return journey. The collected leftover food could have been given out to villages along the way, to those who had not had the privilege of being at the festival in the wilderness.
FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:
Assess your management of God’s resources in your care because what we call our money is actually God’s money in our pockets. Are there spots of wastefulness in your handling of resources? We must commit to frugal careful enjoyment of God’s blessings and avoid waste at all costs.
PRAYER:
Dear Lord Jesus, please forgive me for the times I have been wasteful in handling my time, money, talents, and gifts. Please help me to be intentional about avoiding waste. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen.
THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!
DAILY word study: WASTED
The Greek word used for "wasted" in this verse is "ἀφανίζω" (aphanizō), which means "to vanish away" or "to disappear." It conveys the idea of removing or disposing of something completely.
After everyone had eaten their fill, Jesus instructed His disciples to gather the leftover fragments so that nothing would be wasted. This action demonstrates Jesus' concern for stewardship and resourcefulness. Even in the midst of a miraculous abundance, Jesus teaches His disciples the importance of using resources wisely and avoiding unnecessary waste.
This act of gathering the leftover fragments serves as a practical lesson for us today. It reminds us of the value of being good stewards of the resources God has entrusted to us, whether they be material possessions, time, or talents. Just as Jesus instructed His disciples to gather the fragments and not let anything go to waste, we are called to be mindful of how we use and manage what God has given us.
Reflections:
Consider how you are stewarding the resources God has given you. Are you using your time, talents, and possessions wisely, or are we allowing them to go to waste? How can we cultivate a spirit of stewardship and resourcefulness in our daily lives, following the example set by Jesus Himself?
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