Blessing, Giving, Breaking
That evening the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.”
But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.”
“But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they answered.
“Bring them here,” he said. Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers.
This is a story that most people in America, even if they are not religious, have heard about. Jesus took limited resources, blessed them, gave them out, and fed the 5000. But in between the blessing and the giving there was breaking.
You might say you don’t have much to offer. My talent isn’t very great. That’s ok. In God’s hands a little goes a long way, if you will let him bless you and break you.
Moses spent his time in the desert. Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice to God. David’s character was formed in the wilderness. Job’s faith was sharpened in the midst of great loss. Peter was humbled as the rooster crowed. And Jesus was broken on the cross.
Some time ago I was in a place where I realized my complete inadequacy as a leader. It was very humbling, but it brought me to a place of brokenness. God was showing me that He doesn’t need my skill or my talent, He wants my “yes.” I came to realize that the only thing I had to offer God was myself, my all. I began to write these lyrics:
What could I give a King
who deserves so much more
What could I offer Him, my Friend
Who wore a crown of thorns
I give this life I live, to my knees I fall
I give myself, I give my all
There is no way of getting around the brokenness. I’ve heard it said that “He whom God uses greatly, He wounds deeply.” There is no other pathway to being used of God. Pride must go. Self-sufficiency must die to make way for the tenderness and compassion that only come through the breaking process.
It is then we realize God will take this life, our talent, yes, but also our lack of talent, to feed the 5000.
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