Life is full of wonders. Today I had a new one. I love teaching. Students never cease to do something new. Today in my human development class, which spans the twelve o’clock hour, a young lady got up and left the room. That happens all the time. What followed does not. About ten minutes later she returned with her dinner. She had gone to the cafeteria and now sat down in class to eat her meal. I was so taken back I didn’t know what to say. My wife, an experienced elementary teacher, had the right comment. But having never taught third grade I didn’t know I was to say, “Did you bring enough for everyone?”
Now Jesus would have had an even better comment. He would have said, “Bring it to me.” After blessing it He would have passed it out to everyone and then collected the leftovers for them to take back to the dorms. The feeding of the crowd must have been very satisfying to Jesus; so much so He did it twice, once in Galilee and again east of the Jordan. It brings joy to be able to meet genuine needs.
Ephesians 2:10 says, “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” To do good works is the purpose for our being. There is no real joy in those who constantly feed their own selfish nature. Real joy permeates us when we discover a meaningful task, have the means to meet it and then do it. When we do, the miracle of the feeding happens anew. Resources are multiplied and we achieve our fullest potential. That’s a grand experience.
Written by Roger Bothwell on February 9, 2011
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org