4000 Hungry People

Over 4000 hungry people, seven small loaves of bread, and a few small fish, does not make for a hearty meal. However, when they were finished eating, there were baskets of food left over.

In Mark 8 we have the story of Jesus feeding over 4000 people with very little food, and yet as the disciples distributed what they had, the food multiplied and everyone left satisfied. Very much a miracle had taken place. Jesus had felt compassion for the people and did not want them to leave hungry.

It was not but a short time later, as the disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee with the Jesus, that He discussed with them the "leaven of the Pharisees." Jesus was talking about the teachings of the Pharisees, and the disciples were concerned because they had not brought enough food for them to eat. Jesus chastises them in Mark 8:17-18, and says to them, Do you not yet see or understand? ... And do you not remember?" Remember what? He proceeded to remind them how He had broken five loaves and fed five thousand and seven loaves and fed 4000.

We might think that the disciples were a forgetful bunch that just "did not get it." However, do not we do the same thing. Sunday I asked the question, "What if there is not enough?" As a country we are going through some difficult times economically. Some in our congregation are concerned whether they will have enough to meet the bills each month, others have lost jobs, and still others have seen their retirement investments lose thousands of dollars. It is in these times, as with the disciples, that we need to remember God's faithfulness in the past to give us hope for the present and vision for the future.

As we discussed Sunday, Paul had learned the secret of trusting God whether he had little or much. In Phillippians 4:13 Paul wrote, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." In the context of the previous verses, what Paul was saying was, "Whether I have much of little, I can find contentment in Christ. I have learned to live in abundance and put my trust in the power and life of Christ and I have learned to live in want and put my trust in the power and life of Christ."

We can find the same peace and contentment today as we remind ourselves, as Jesus did to the disciples, of God's faithfulness in the past. Out of compassion Jesus fed the 4000, He fed the 5000, and He will provide for us as well today. He did not say we would not go through some difficult and even lean times, but He is faithful and He will walk with us through those times. Difficult times are opportunities to grow in our faith and confidence in God.

As we saw Sunday, remember that ...

money is not a measure of God's favor,
your net worth does not determine your self-worth, and
money does not equate with security.

We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us!

Pastor Gary