God Uses Little Things

The throng moved slowly but with excitement.  It was Passover time, and pilgrims headed to Jerusalem.  But something detoured them.  The disciples of Jesus had returned to Jesus from a preaching tour.  Jesus intended for them to come apart and rest awhile.  When the pilgrims discovered that Jesus was actually in their area they followed him to the north side of the Sea of Galilee on the east side of Jordan.  Now was the opportunity of a lifetime to see and hear this miracle worker who had not only healed the sick, lame, and blind but had also raised people from the dead.

When Jesus stopped on a grassy hillside to speak to them, all eyes fastened on him.  They knew he spoke healing words and words with the authority of God upon him.

But it was getting late, and folks had not considered bringing food.  But Jesus knew their plight and had compassion for them.  He knew what he would do but then tested his disciples.  “Philip, where are we to buy bread so these can eat?”  Andrew found a lad who had five barley loaves and two fish.  “But what are they among so many.” (John 6:9).  The barley loaves (each about the size of a diner roll) were typical of a poor man’s lunch, and the two fish were likely part of the “sardine family” from the Sea of Galilee.

The disciples looked over the crowd standing in a large field.  (Imagine a football stadium filled with 10 to 20,000 fans.)  Jesus commanded the people to sit down on the grass in groups of hundreds and fifties.  The disciples were probably wondering, “What comes next?”  Jesus then gave thanks, broke the bread and fishes, and gave them to the disciples, who distributed them to the enormous crowd.

(How would you react if you saw only the five loaves and two fishes?)

Jesus had an unending supply.  The more Jesus broke and handed to the disciples, the more the bread and fish multiplied.   When all had eaten and were satisfied, the disciples gathered up twelve baskets of leftovers.  The disciples and the crowd could hardly believe it – yet it happened.

The little boy gave up his small five barley loaves and two fishes.  The Lord multiplied it to feed this vast crowd recorded in Scripture as 5,000 men plus women and children.

The little boy had no idea what would happen with his small lunch.  He just gave what he had.  Jesus didn’t tell the disciples to divvy up the small resource into 10,000 pieces.  He didn’t send them to a store.  He had the disciples take what he gave them and distribute it.  Jesus used a little boy and a little boy’s lunch to multiply into enough food for this enormous crowd.

God is not asking you or me to give more than we possess.  Just give what you have.

God uses small, sometimes insignificant things.

God used Moses’ small rod.  Moses cast it on the ground.  It became a snake, which terrified him.  God told him to pick it up by the tail.  (That certainly would have scared me.) Moses obeyed, and it became a rod again.  (Exodus 4:2-4).  Later, Moses’ brother, Aaron, did this before Pharoah and his magicians.  Then they duplicated the rod-to-snake miracle, but Aaron’s rod swallowed up all their rods.  (Exodus 7:10-12)

Shamgar, the third judge of Israel, slew six hundred men with an ox goad.  (Judges 3:31).

Gideon was a poor man from a poor family and the least in his family.  (Judges 6:14-15).  God used him to lead 300 men to a victory over the Midianites and Amalekites, who the writer described as “like grasshoppers for multitude and camels without number.  (Judges 7:12,22-25).

David was a young man who was considered “nothing” by Goliath.  But David came against Goliath in the name of the Lord of Hosts.  He said, “All this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands.”  (1 Samuel 17:47).  David won.

Mary was a young peasant girl who loved the Lord.  When Gabriel, the angel, told her of God’s plan for her, she said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word.” (Luke 1:38).  She became the mother of Jesus.

Saul (Paul) was a talented, educated man, qualified by education and experience to be a great leader.  But he was on the devil’s side.  God had to humble him, save him, and teach him that it is all by grace, not by his talents or skills.  In Philippians 3:7-10, Paul gave this testimony: “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may  win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”

He gave further testimony, “By the grace of God, I am what I am.” (1 Corinthians 15:10).  In 1 Timothy 1:15, he wrote, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.”

For the person who thinks he is great and would be a great deal for God, think again.  God will have to humble you and make you little (like He did Paul) so He can use you.

Whether you are the worst of sinners or high moral character, highly skilled or unskilled, talented or untalented, educated or uneducated, rich or poor, we are all equal at the foot of the cross.  After salvation we must come, as a sinner saved by grace, to serve Him.  If we are willing, God will qualify us, train us, and prepare us for His service.

God is not asking you or me to give what we don’t possess.  He only asks us to give ourselves and  He will mold us into the servant He desires.

If you first give yourself, God will direct you to His plan for your service.  If you say yes to His plan, He will prepare and qualify you.  “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

Meditate on this song: Little Is Much When God Is In It.

In the harvest field now ripened
There’s a work for all to do;
Hark!  the Master’s voice is calling,
To the harvest calling you.

Refrain:
Little is much when God is in it!
Labor not for wealth or fame;
There’s a crown, and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus’ name.

2. In the mad rush of the broad way,
In the hurry and the strife,
Tell of Jesus’ love and mercy,
Give to them the Word of Life.

3. Does the place you’re called to labor
Seem so small and little known?
It is great if God is in it,
And He’ll not forsake His own.

4. Are you laid aside from service,
Body worn from toil and care?
You can still be in the battle,
In the sacred place of prayer.

5. When the conflict here is ended
And our race on earth is run,
He will say, if we are faithful,
“Welcome home, My child—well done!”