Near the end of his ministry in Galilee, Jesus miraculously fed 5000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish (Matthew 14:13-21). So it seems rather embarrassing just one chapter later when he is ministering to a smaller Gentile crowd of only 4000 people, that his disciples are at a loss about how to feed them with more food in their possession than they had at Galilee – that is, seven loaves and a few fish (Matthew 15:32-38). Jesus cared about that Gentile crowd of 4000 and how they hadn’t eaten in three days, so he was concerned that they might faint if they were sent away hungry. He wasn’t going to stand for the excuse that there wasn’t enough food. Instead, he ordered the disciples to bring him whatever food they had. He took the small amount that the disciples had on hand and then performed the same miracle he had performed in Galilee. Everyone was fed, and once again, there were leftovers. You might be inclined to attribute this embarrassing moment to a lack of faith on the part of the disciples, but it isn’t so much that their faith was weak as it is that their faith was misplaced. They were putting their trust in their own possessions and abilities, rather than in the master who creates all possessions, all abilities, and is sovereign over all outcomes.
Some Christians tend to shy away from participation in the work of the ministry with claims that they don’t have anything to offer. This is the same misplaced faith of the disciples. Instead of seeing themselves as having nothing to offer, it is better that they bring to Jesus whatever talent they have – and everyone has something they can offer. He will then miraculously multiply that talent, just as he did the loaves and the fish, to fit the needs of his ministry’s objectives. Ministry, afterall, isn’t about a disciple's poverty, but about his master’s wealth of power.
Besides, there is great danger in holding back what small things you might have. Recall the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30). In that parable, Jesus tells the story of how a master gave talents to three of his servants to oversee. He had an expectation that each of his servants would oversee those talents according to their own individual abilities. One servant was given five talents, another two talents, and yet another only one talent. The servant with five talents, and the servant with two talents invested what they had been given so that their master had a return on their endeavors. The master was pleased and increased their talents and responsibilities. But the one with only a single talent did nothing with his talent because he was afraid that he might lose what the master had given him. He was sorely rebuked, and his talents and responsibilities were removed. Ironically, his fear of losing the master’s money caused him to lose the very thing he had been trying to protect.
But there’s an even bigger reason to use your talents than Christ's ability to multiply what he has given you. It is that God will use whatever you give him to benefit those upon whom he has compassion. You can never know how your small talent will be used by the miraculous power of God to benefit those who are hungry and ready to faint. What talents do you have to give toward ministry? Are you afraid they are not enough? Are you afraid that Christ isn't powerful enough to multiply that to his ends? What exactly are your fears?
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