“You give them something to eat.” (Matthew 14:16). With that instruction, Jesus gave his disciples a seemingly impossible task to accomplish – the feeding of over five thousand hungry people. Crowds of people had travelled from far away to listen to Jesus preach the good news in a remote area. It was getting late and the people were hungry. The disciples went to Jesus and asked him to send the people away to find food for themselves. Jesus responded, “you give them something to eat.”
It was a test of faith. It was also a call to action. Jesus knew the disciples did not have sufficient food to feed themselves, not to talk of feeding over five thousand people. Yet, he told them to give the people something to eat. Far away from any restaurant, market, or grocery store, the task of finding the quantity of food sufficient to feed that many people at that time and place was, to say the least, a mission impossible for the disciples. The disciples turned to Jesus and gave him five loaves of bread and two fish they could find. Jesus blessed the food and fed over five thousand people with some surplus.
Note the emphasis Jesus places on “you.” “You give them something to eat.” Often times, we exclude ourselves when difficult decisions have to be made or actions need to be taken, believing that it is our pastors’ responsibility, it is our leaders’ responsibility, it is our parents’ responsibility, it is our employers’ responsibility, it is our teachers’ responsibility, or it is someone else’s responsibility, but not ours. No, Jesus says “you” give them something to eat. You take charge and make something happen. As an individual, you cannot solve world hunger, but you can help feed some of the poor with whom you come into contact. The disciples understood and took charge of the situation to the best of their human abilities. They found bread and fish and brought them to Jesus. That was what they could do under the circumstances. They had faith that if they took charge and brought the bread and fish to Jesus, he would be able to do the impossible.
Similarly, when Jesus and his mother were at a wedding in Cana and the wine ran out, the mother took charge and approached Jesus with that information with the expectation that Jesus would do something about it. It worked. Despite Jesus’ initial resistance, the mother told the servers to do as Jesus said. Jesus told the servers to fill the jar with water and he turned the water into the best wine anyone there had ever tasted. (John 2).
The disciples and the mother of Jesus turned to Jesus to do the impossible, and he did. One overlooked advantage we have as Christians is an open invitation to come to Jesus, in prayer, with all our sins, problems, and missions impossible. In the second stanza of the hymn “What A Friend We Have in Jesus,” the hymnist asks: “Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged; Take it to the Lord in prayer.” No matter how impossible the situation may seem, do not say there is nothing you can do about it. There is always something you can do about every situation. For example, you can pray to the Almighty God in the name of Jesus. And that means a whole lot. Through your prayers, the Lord can work miracles through you or others. Remember that the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective (James 5:16). James also reminds us that Elijah was a man just like you and me. Yet, he prayed that there should be no rain and there was no rain for three and a half years; thereafter, he prayed that there should be rain and there was rain (James 5:17–18).
As Christians, we have Jesus on our side. And so there is no need for us to go about as if we are neglected orphans with no hope. We must not approach matters solely from a human point of view; if we do so, we would miss opportunities to experience the awesome power of God. Instead, we should say along with the Apostle Paul that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13). We should be alert and not underestimate the power of God. You may be surprised from where God may bring help. In John’s account of the story of the feeding of five thousand mentioned above, the five loaves of bread and two fish that Jesus blessed did not come from the disciples; they were provided by a boy (John 6:9). While the adults were probably hiding their food, the little boy trustingly gave his. You, too, can help in your own small way.
Christianity and the Church have come a long way. Advancements in Christianity and the growth of the Church have come about not because of Sunday pew-warmers, onlookers, bystanders, spectators, sympathizers, and well-wishers. Rather, the growth and advancements have come about, in part, because individual, active Christians and the Church obeyed the call of Christ to go into the world and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). They prayed and took action. Therefore, the Great Commission and the growth of the Church cannot be left in the hands of priests, pastors, ministers, evangelists, and missionaries alone. All Christians are ambassadors of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ wherever we find ourselves (2 Corinthians 5:20) and we should fully represent Christ in thoughts, words, and deeds.
An example of Christians answering the call to action is found in the field of education in Ghana. In the mid 1950’s, a group from the American Baptist Missionary Union planted a seed for Christian education at Asokore-Mampong, Kumasi, which is now called Kumasi Academy, one of the leading high schools in Ghana. The school’s motto, “Vouloir C’est Pouvoir,” is a French term for “where there’s a will, there is a way.” Consistent with the motto, the missionaries saw a need for Christian education, had the will to do something about it, and God provided a way for them to fill the need. As an alumnus of that school, I am often reminded that if I have the will, God will make a way for me. You, too, can answer the call of Jesus in several ways that are unique to you. Don’t say you can’t. Is anything too hard for God? (Genesis 18:14; Jeremiah 32:27). God will not send you on a mission without providing the resources needed to accomplish it. If you have the will, you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Therefore, don’t hide your food, talent or treasure. “You give them something to eat.”
Prayer is the key. May God grant us the grace to seek Him daily through our prayers.
Dr. Daniel Gyebi, Attorney-at-Law, Texas, U.S.A., and Founder, PrayerHouse Ministry, Kumasi, Ghana.
PrayerHouse Ministry is dedicated to providing a quiet facility for Christians to pray individually by themselves without any intermediary priest, pastor or any other person. This is a free service. No money is demanded or accepted. One facility is located at Kyerekrom / Fumesua, near Building and Road Research Institute Offices, one mile off the Kumasi-Accra Road and next to a house called Grace Castle. If you are interested, please contact Agnes at 027-7423815. Another is located at Kantinkyiren, at the junction of Kantinkyiren and Konkori, off the Kumasi-Obuasi Road, branching left at Trede junction. Contact Kwadwo at 020-8768461 / 0246-989413.
